President Bush said Wednesday he will soon sign a bill that overhauls the rules on secret government eavesdropping and grants immunity to telecommunications companies that helped, calling it a vital intelligence bill.
The Senate passed the bill Wednesday, sending it to Bush. The president spoke shortly after the vote, immediately upon his arrival back at the White House from a four-day trip to Japan. The bill is a victory for Bush, as it retroactively shields telecommunications companies from lawsuits as he had demanded and ends almost a year of political wrangling over the regulation of eavesdropping.
This legislation is critical to America's safety, the president said in brief Rose Garden remarks. It is long overdue.
Bush said it would protect Americans' civil liberties, and also their security.
This bill will help our intelligence professionals learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they're saying and what they're planning, he said.
Bush also said it would give immunity to the telecommunications companies for past or future cooperation with the government.
