Washington, DC – When the Democrat Leadership would not even allow the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to come up for a vote today, House Republicans walked out of the Capitol and gave a brief press conference on the Capitol Building steps.

Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), the Ranking Member of the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee released the following statement concerning the Democrat's failure to bring a permanent update to the Protect America Act to a vote before recess:

"Today, the Democrat Leadership in the House refused to allow a vote on permanently extending the Protect America Act -- this in spite of the fact that members of their own party in the Senate have already passed this piece of legislation.

"Our intelligence community needs the tools given them in this legislation to protect our nation from terrorists and those who would do us harm.

"The Democrat Leadership in the House has shown the American people where their priorities lie. They would rather pack up and leave town for recess instead of allowing our intelligence professionals to have the critical tools they need to protect our families and our nation."