◆ SpookStack

the problem is enforcement of the law, not the law itself’ Timely corrective measures by the ['BI and effective oversight by the Justice Department and Congress will ensure proper use of this important law. The inspector general's report found that the FBI's database for tracking NSLs significantly underestimated the number of NSL requests, resulting in inaccurate reports to Congress on the FBI's use of NSLs. From 2003 to 2005, the FBI issued a total of 143,074 NSLs. This compares to 739 exigent letters to three telephone companies issued contrary to national security investigation guidelines. The exigent letters represent 1/200th of the national security letters issued. Although the use of these unauthorized letters is disconcerting, the FBI discontinued this practice last year. The inspector general makes two other very important findings. First, there is no evidence that arryone at the FBI intended to violate the law or internal policy. This is a significant finding because it confirms that FBI agents acted in good faith and sought to comply with the law, even as they worked under severe lime constraints and with an urgent desire to thwart terrorist activities. Second, as detailed by the inspector general, NSLs are a critical tool in fighting terrorism and keeping our country safe. The information acquired through NSLs is valuable to international terrorism and espionage investigations and has allowed the FBI and intelligence agencies to identify terrorists and spies, the sources of their financing, and their plans to attack or harm our national security. SMITH: In addition, the FBI shares important information gathered through NSLs with other intelligence agencies, joint terrorism task forces, and state and local aw enforcement agencies. To do their job, the FBI must be able to collect important information about suspected terrorists and spies while complying with the law and freely share such information with key partners. In response to extensive oversight efforts conducted last Congress, the Patriot Reauthorization Act added critical new safeguards, For instance, an NSL recipient can challenge the request in court, nondisclosure orders require supervisory approval, and the recipient may disclose the NSL to an aftomey. 1 applaud the administration's response to the inspector general's report and expect the administration to follow through on its promise to act quickly to remedy the deficiencies identified by the inspector general. Mr. Chairman, on September 11th, 2001, the United States was attacked. More than 3,000 people lost their lives. Members of Congress overwhelming!y approved important hew counterterrorism tools for our nation's law enforcement personnel and updated existing authorities to meet the terrorist threat. We must continue to demonstrate responsible leadership on the NSLs and other important national security issues.