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SENATOR ALLARD COMMENTS ON NSA PHONE SURVEILLANCE CONTROVERSY

May 11, 2006

Office of Senator Wayne Allard

Contact: Angela de Rocha (202) 224-5944 & Carolyn Williams (202) 224-6207

May 11th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) made the following statement today regarding a USA Today story alleging that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been conducting domestic surveillance on calls made inside the United States, and that NSA is building a massive database with the information obtained from this surveillance with the cooperation of the major telecommunications companies.

“I do not support domestic eavesdropping on the American people’s private telephone conversations,” Senator Allard said. “I am concerned over the allegations made in today’s USA Today article and expect extensive congressional review of the program in light of these allegations.”

“It is important to remember that the program under discussion today does not involve the NSA listening in on or recording anyone’s conversations,” Senator Allard said. “The agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in order to detect and track suspected terrorist activity.”

“According to information provided to me by the White House, telephone customers’ names, addresses and other personal information have not been handed over to NSA as part of this program,” Senator Allard added.

“The White House and the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee have clearly and repeatedly stated to me that there is no domestic surveillance without court approval,” Senator Allard said. “What’s more, appropriate members of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees and Senate and House leadership have been briefed on all aspects of our nation’s current intelligence activities.”

“NSA’s terrorist surveillance program intercepts calls made by terrorists in other countries to suspected terrorists in the United States. It is not designed to nor intended to eavesdrop on domestic-to-domestic phone calls,” Senator Allard said. “I strongly support the NSA terrorist surveillance program and believe it is a key tool in the global war on terror.”