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Congressmen Debate Renewal of Warrantless Surveillance Law

After a standoff with House Republicans and President Bush, the Democratic-led House failed to extend a warrantless terrorist eavesdropping program Friday. Congressmen Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., offer two views on the divisive surveillance law.

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  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    Legislation authorizing the current Terrorist Surveillance Program is set to expire at midnight. Standing in the way of its renewal is a fight between President Bush and House Democrats over granting immunity to telecom companies already facing some 40 lawsuits for voluntarily cooperating with the program.

    The president says without the program intelligence agencies will not get the information they need to track terrorists.

    We get two views on the standoff from Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland — he is the House majority leader — and Congressman Peter Hoekstra of Michigan. He is the ranking member on the House Select Committee on Intelligence.

    Gentlemen, we appreciate your joining us. Thank you very much.

    REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), House Majority Leader: Thank you, Judy.

    REP. PETER HOEKSTRA (R), Michigan: Thank you.