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June 20, 2008

Bush Praises US Congress for Cooperation on FISA, War Funding 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1CC92DD:A6F02AD83191E160AAFB7977EE7466277F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
President calls on House of Representatives to pass domestic
surveillance legislation 
President George W. Bush makes statement at White House, 20 Jun 2008U.S.
President George Bush has praised Congress for its bipartisan
cooperation on domestic surveillance and new war funding.At
the White House Friday, Mr. Bush called on the House of Representatives
to pass the domestic surveillance legislation Friday. He urged the
Senate to take it up quickly.House and Senate leaders agreed on a
compromise bill Thursday.The
measure, which permits the government to eavesdrop on the
communications of suspected terrorists without first obtaining a
court's permission, could also protect telecommunications companies
from lawsuits stemming from their involvement in the controversial
warrantless surveillance. Federal judges could dismiss
lawsuits if companies can show they received written certifications
that the White House asked for their participation and assured them of
the legality of the surveillance.Mr. Bush also said he was
pleased Congress passed what he called a responsible war funding bill
that gives American troops the funds they need without timetables for
withdrawal from Iraq.By a wide margin Thursday, the U.S. House
of Representatives approved more than $160 billion in funding for the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate is expected to vote on the
measure in coming days.The speaker of the House of
Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, said she is disappointed the
bill did not include a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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