The Senate passed a two-year extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows federal agents to obtain the online communications of foreign nationals without a warrant, late Friday night in a 60-34 vote. 
The debate on the renewal of Section 702 pitted those who said it was essential to national security against those who were worried about the potential for Americans to be surveilled. Senators who <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00148.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> in favor included 30 Republicans, 28 Democrats, and two independents, while 16 Republicans, 17 Democrats, and 1 independent voted against. 
The measure was supported by both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
&#8220;The stakes of such an outcome are grave,&#8221; McConnell <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-fisa-surveillance-renewal-avoiding-lapse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;The authorities in question today have, quite literally, been the only defense against would-be national security disasters.”
Schumer said passage was necessary for American national security. “It wasn’t easy, people had many different views, but we all know one thing: letting FISA expire would have been dangerous. It’s an important part of our national security to stop acts of terror, drug trafficking, and violent extremism,” he <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-renews-fisa-section-702-spying-privacy-rcna148394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
On the other side, lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) argued that there should be a warrant requirement if the communications of Americans are caught up in the surveillance of a foreign national. 
Previous reports have indicated that the FBI has inappropriately used FISA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-misused-surveillance-tool-over-278000-times-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 278,000 times</a> to collect information about American citizens, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-inappropriately-used-spy-powers-on-u-s-senator-court-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said that</a> the FBI searched for information on an unidentified U.S. senator using Section 702 powers. 
“Yet again the Senate was asked to consider the question: can liberty be exchanged for security? And sadly the majority of Senators said yes it can,” Paul <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1781536215793025043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after his amendments failed. “Final FISA reauthorization passed once again.”
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Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said there were not enough protections in place for American citizens. 
“The Department of Justice’s abuses of FISA to spy on American citizens and their communications are unacceptable and contrary to the intent of the protections enshrined in our Fourth Amendment,” he <a href="https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-votes-against-fisa-reauthorization-legislation-after-fourth-amendment-protections-rejected#:~:text=U.S.%20Senator%20Kevin%20Cramer%20(R,obtain%20a%20warrant%20from%20the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “The prohibition on unreasonable search and seizure can’t be taken for granted.”
Earlier this week, the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-overcomes-final-hurdle-to-send-fisa-reauthorization-bill-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> its reauthorization of FISA after a similar warrant amendment stalled 212-212. Lawmakers eventually voted 259 to 128 to advance the legislation. 
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation as his administration has pushed lawmakers to renew Section 702.

Capitol Hill Prepares Ahead Of Full House Vote On Impeachment Articles This Week

Senate Sends FISA Reauthorization Bill To Biden’s Desk After Late Night Vote

Chuck Schumer

Civil Rights

FISA

Joe Biden

Mitch McConnell

National Security

Rand Paul

Senate

The GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> overcame one last remaining hurdle on Monday to approve a bill that would reauthorize Section 702 of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)</a>, a spy tool that proponents say is critical to protecting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/national-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national security</a>, and send it to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> before the foreign data collection authorities sunset at the end of this week.
Lawmakers voted <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseDailyPress/status/1780009090309116337" target="_blank" rel="noopener">259-128</a> to table a motion to reconsider the legislation that was introduced right after the chamber passed it on Friday. The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fisa-warrant-requirement-gets-last-ditch-revival-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last-ditch effort</a> to stave off the bill was spearheaded by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who urged colleagues to join in her in demanding a warrant requirement to address concerns about FISA abuse and privacy.
Luna sent a letter to Republicans and Democrats, rallying support for her cause. She made a specific appeal to the 56 members who voted to pass the FISA bill after supporting the amendment from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) that would <a href="https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-major-legislation-end-warrantless-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">place limits on</a> officials being able to do U.S. person searches in the information that gets swept up in foreign surveillance without a warrant.
The amendment proved to be a contentious proposition that spilled across party lines. It narrowly failed to pass in a <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">212-212 tie vote</a> on Friday with support from hardline Republicans and leftist Democrats. Luna wanted it to get a second chance. Lawmakers &#8220;must fight to get the Biggs Amendment adopted in the final passage of this legislation,&#8221; Luna said in her letter.
House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), who was the lawmaker who led the push to defeat Luna&#8217;s motion to reconsider the bill, has been a vocal advocate for reauthorizing Section 702 without the warrant requirement. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnLwv_zuTA4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News on Sunday that Section 702 &#8220;must continue&#8221; while insisting that American lives were at stake.
The House <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024119" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> 273-147 on Friday, after the amendment failed, to extend authorities the U.S. government uses to <a href="https://www.dni.gov/files/icotr/Section702-Basics-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gather electronic communications information</a> on non-U.S. citizens abroad and deter threats to the homeland. The legislation, which got bipartisan support, would renew Section 702 for another two years and implement reforms to FISA.
Now, with the matter of Luna&#8217;s objection settled, the bill heads to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1776255027432095818" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> lawmakers &#8220;must act quickly on a bipartisan basis to ensure these vital national security authorities do not lapse.&#8221; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell/status/1779990079479636093" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pressed</a> for FISA authorities to be maintained.
They have until April 19 to extend Section 702 before it expires. A couple members of the upper chamber, including Sens. <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMikeLee/status/1778807093870403608" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Lee (R-UT)</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1779535984457077073" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul (R-KY)</a>, spoke out in favor of passing the warrant amendment to protect the Fourth Amendment.
The White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SAP-H.R.-7888-FISA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supports</a> reauthorization but rejected the warrant requirement, saying in a statement that the amendment from Biggs would &#8220;prohibit U.S. officials from reviewing critical information that the Intelligence Community has already lawfully collected, with exceptions that are exceedingly narrow and unworkable in practice.&#8221;
Initially, the FISA bill offered a five-year extension to Section 702, but it got whittled down to two years after it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-blocks-fisa-spy-bill-opponents-demand-warrant-requirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed</a> to advance earlier last week. The shortened window will allow President Joe Biden or whatever administration may succeed him next year the chance to seek a FISA shakeup.
Former President Donald Trump, who is running for another White House tern, had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-kill-fisa-as-lawmakers-consider-surveillance-reauthorization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> lawmakers to &#8220;KILL FISA&#8221; and said it was used to spy on his campaign. He was alluding to the FBI&#8217;s controversial efforts to get warrants to snoop on a 2016 campaign aide under a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4463961-house-unveils-warrantless-surveillance-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different part of FISA, Section 701</a>, using an unverified dossier.
Johnson <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1778076099651444805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> the FISA bill, called the Reforming Intelligence And Securing America Act, implements reforms that would “actually kill the abuses” directed at Trump’s 2016 campaign. The speaker met with Trump on Friday. During a joint press conference, Trump said he&#8217;s <a href="https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1778900252684378474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;not a big fan of FISA,&#8221;</a> but added he told &#8220;everybody&#8221; to do what they want with it.

House Intel Chair Mike Turner

House Overcomes Final Hurdle To Send FISA Reauthorization Bill To Senate

Congress

Mike Turner

Surveillance

U.S.

U.S. House of Representatives

The GOP lawmaker who objected to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-votes-to-pass-fisa-reauthorization-but-theres-a-catch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">final passage</a> of a bill that would reauthorize Section 702 of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)</a> is urging colleagues to join her in an eleventh-hour push to stop it unless one major change is made.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) sent out a letter to Republicans and Democrats this weekend urging them to oppose the reauthorization legislation, at least until a warrant requirement is added to address concerns about FISA abuse and privacy.
&#8220;The fight for taking down the unconstitutional FISA is not over,&#8221; Luna <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/1779237542233071622" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The fight for taking down the unconstitutional FISA is not over. There is another vote on Monday! I have sent this letter to all Republicans, and we are sending it to all Democrats. We need 218 to stand with us against the unconstitutional surveillance of Americans. <a href="https://t.co/TKe59Rvf8d">pic.twitter.com/TKe59Rvf8d</a>
&mdash; Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/1779237542233071622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;There is another vote on Monday! I have sent this letter to all Republicans, and we are sending it to all Democrats,&#8221; Luna added. &#8220;We need 218 to stand with us against the unconstitutional surveillance of Americans.&#8221;
Luna&#8217;s letter touted an amendment from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) that would add a <a href="https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-major-legislation-end-warrantless-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warrant requirement</a> for government officials wanting to do U.S. person searches in the information that gets swept up in foreign surveillance.
The amendment has already proven to be a contentious proposition that spilled across party lines, with opponents arguing that it could <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseIntel/status/1778831812069851607" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jeopardize national security</a>. It narrowly failed to pass in a <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">212-212 tie vote</a>.
&#8220;The majority of Republicans voted for my warrant requirement amendment,&#8221; Biggs <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAndyBiggsAZ/status/1778853835059905008" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X. &#8220;86 voted with the Deep State. We need Republicans in Congress who believe that you shouldn&#8217;t be surveilled by your federal government.&#8221;
While the Biden administration supports the reauthorization bill, which would extend Section 702 for two years and implement some FISA reforms, it has pushed back against the warrant requirement idea.
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The amendment would &#8220;prohibit U.S. officials from reviewing critical information that the Intelligence Community has already lawfully collected, with exceptions that are exceedingly narrow and unworkable in practice,&#8221; the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SAP-H.R.-7888-FISA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a statement.</a>
Congress and Biden have until April 19 to extend Section 702 before it sunsets.
Luna made a specific appeal to the 56 members who voted to pass the FISA bill after supporting the amendment from Biggs. She asked them to oppose Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner&#8217;s (R-OH) motion to table her motion to reconsider the bill.
Lawmakers &#8220;must fight to get the Biggs Amendment adopted in the final passage of this legislation,&#8221; Luna said.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)

FISA Warrant Requirement Gets Last-Ditch Revival Push

Politics

The GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> voted on Friday to pass a bill that would reauthorize Section 702 of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)</a> ahead of its expiration deadline next week, but the legislation has one final hurdle to pass before going to the Senate.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), one of the members demanding a warrant requirement, objected to the final passage and <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1778833539653423594" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sought a vote</a> on a motion to reconsider. Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) moved to table it, but a recorded vote was postponed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), after the House passed the FISA Section 702 reauthorization bill 273-147, objected to its passage and requested a recorded vote on the motion to reconsider. <a href="https://t.co/PXqJOUGuiF">pic.twitter.com/PXqJOUGuiF</a>
&mdash; The Recount (@therecount) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1778840534141772251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The remaining vote is expected to take place next week. Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1778832997417955369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that &#8220;GOP leadership believes the same coalition that passed FISA will vote to table and the bill will go to the Senate.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
OK so here&#39;s the deal.
The House will have to vote to table a motion to reconsider the FISA vote next week. 
The GOP leadership believes the same coalition that passed FISA will vote to table and the bill will go to the Senate.
&mdash; Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1778832997417955369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Lawmakers <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024119" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> 273-147 in favor of extending authorities the U.S. government uses to collect data on non-U.S. citizens abroad and deter threats to the homeland. The legislation, which got bipartisan support, would renew Section 702 for another two years and implement reforms to FISA.
Amendment votes took place earlier in the day, including one for a highly-contentious offering that would add a <a href="https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-major-legislation-end-warrantless-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warrant requirement</a> for officials wanting to do U.S. person searches in the information that gets swept up in foreign surveillance under Section 702.
That amendment, offered by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), got support from hardline conservatives and leftist members concerned about privacy, yet it failed to pass due to a <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">212-212 tie vote</a>.
&#8220;NO WARRANT, NO FISA,&#8221; Luna <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/1778820846221500899" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.
The White House joined with some high-ranking Republicans in opposing the warrant requirement over the view that it would jeopardize national security. Turner <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeTurner/status/1778816761338433989" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> it would &#8220;give constitutional rights to Hezbollah and other foreign adversaries.&#8221;
Initially, the FISA bill offered a five-year extension to Section 702, but it got whittled down to two years after it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-blocks-fisa-spy-bill-opponents-demand-warrant-requirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed</a> to advance earlier this week. The shortened window will allow President Joe Biden or whatever administration may succeed him next year the chance to seek a FISA shakeup.
Former President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-kill-fisa-as-lawmakers-consider-surveillance-reauthorization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> lawmakers to &#8220;KILL FISA&#8221; and said it was used to spy on his campaign. He was alluding to the FBI&#8217;s controversial efforts to get warrants to snoop on a 2016 campaign aide under a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4463961-house-unveils-warrantless-surveillance-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different part of FISA, Section 701</a>, using an unverified dossier.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1778076099651444805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> the FISA bill, called the Reforming Intelligence And Securing America Act, implements reforms that would “actually kill the abuses” directed at Trump’s 2016 campaign. Johnson is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/12/donald-trump-mike-johnson-meeting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a> to meet with Trump later in the day on Friday.
If the FISA legislation makes it out of the House, it will head to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1776255027432095818" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> lawmakers &#8220;must act quickly on a bipartisan basis to ensure these vital national security authorities do not lapse.&#8221;
The White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SAP-H.R.-7888-FISA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">came out in support</a> of reauthorization but rejected the warrant requirement, saying in a <a href="https://twitter.com/jordainc/status/1778785434430038308" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memo</a> that the amendment from Biggs would &#8220;eviscerate the value of Section 702.&#8221; Lawmakers and Biden have until April 19 to extend Section 702 before it sunsets.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna

House Votes To Pass FISA Reauthorization. But There’s A Catch.

House Votes To Pass FISA Reauthorization. But There's A Catch.

Mike Johnson

The GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> is positioned to have another go at reauthorizing Section 702 of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)</a>, a spy tool set to sunset next week that proponents say is crucial to protecting national security.
A <a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240408/RCP_7888_xml.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revised</a> bill, which shrinks the extension window from five to two years and implements some reforms, passed through the Rules Committee on Thursday evening. Votes on the floor are <a href="https://twitter.com/jordainc/status/1778576065503363346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a> to begin in the morning on Friday.
The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4589456-house-panel-tees-up-vote-on-revised-fisa-reauthorization/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> there is room to consider an amendment that would add a warrant requirement for Section 702, which could alleviate privacy concerns, and a bill requiring a warrant for purchasing information on U.S. citizens from data brokers.
Nineteen Republicans joined with Democrats to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-blocks-fisa-spy-bill-opponents-demand-warrant-requirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oppose moving forward</a> on Wednesday with the five-year extension of the provision that the <a href="https://www.dni.gov/files/icotr/Section702-Basics-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government says</a> is used to monitor non-U.S. citizens abroad and deter threats from terrorists and others.
Some members who voted against advancing the FISA bill are insistent on a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4584117-fisa-spy-powers-rules-warrant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warrant requirement</a> for officials seeking to <a href="https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-major-legislation-end-warrantless-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access data concerning U.S. citizens</a> — ostensibly for law enforcement — that gets swept up in monitoring foreign persons.
A reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/aishahhasnie/status/1778532349531259097" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that multiple lawmakers told Fox News that limiting the extension window to two years was a compromise that would allow former President Donald Trump to push for more changes if he wins another White House term.
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Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-kill-fisa-as-lawmakers-consider-surveillance-reauthorization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushed</a> lawmakers to &#8220;KILL FISA&#8221; while saying it was used to spy on his campaign, alluding to the FBI&#8217;s controversial efforts to get warrants to snoop on a 2016 campaign aide under a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4463961-house-unveils-warrantless-surveillance-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different part of FISA, Section 701</a>, using an unverified dossier.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1778076099651444805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> the FISA legislation, called the Reforming Intelligence And Securing America Act, implements reforms that would “actually kill the abuses” directed at Trump’s 2016 campaign.
If the FISA legislation passes through the House, it will head to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1776255027432095818" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> lawmakers &#8220;must act quickly on a bipartisan basis to ensure these vital national security authorities do not lapse.&#8221;
The deadline is April 19.
The Office of Management and Budget <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1778567490986992019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> a statement on Thursday evening that said the Biden administration &#8220;strongly supports&#8221; the bill to reauthorize Section 702, citing its uses to protect the homeland from a variety of threats.
But the statement also said the administration rejects the amendment offered by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) that would implement a warrant requirement for Section 702.
&#8220;The amendment would prohibit U.S. officials from reviewing critical information that the Intelligence Community has already lawfully collected, with exceptions that are exceedingly narrow and unworkable in practice,&#8221; it said.
&#8220;Our intelligence, defense, and public safety communities are united: the extensive harms of this proposal simply cannot be mitigated. Therefore, the Administration strongly opposes the amendment,&#8221; the statement added.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

House Poised To Take Another Crack At FISA Reauthorization

Donald Trump

Ex-FBI Deputy Director <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/andrew-mccabe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew McCabe</a> said on Thursday the bureau made &#8220;many mistakes&#8221; in seeking <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)</a> authority to snoop on Carter Page, an aide to former President Donald Trump&#8217;s 2016 campaign.
The comments were made during a CNN interview in which McCabe defended FISA&#8217;s Section 702 — which empowers the U.S. intelligence community to collect data on non-U.S. citizens abroad — as Congress debates whether to reauthorize it.
McCabe, now a CNN law enforcement analyst, responded to Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-kill-fisa-as-lawmakers-consider-surveillance-reauthorization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">call</a> to &#8220;KILL FISA&#8221; while saying it was used to spy on his campaign, after which the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-blocks-fisa-spy-bill-opponents-demand-warrant-requirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blocked</a> consideration of a reauthorization bill just days before Section 702 sunsets.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Disgraced former FBI agent Andy McCabe: &quot;[FISA] 702 authorities were never used in the — in the course of that investigation of Donald Trump &amp; his campaign &amp; some of his campaign associates. He — he may be referring to the FISA that was used — that was obtained to surveil Carter… <a href="https://t.co/qI2t6hgrzG">pic.twitter.com/qI2t6hgrzG</a>
&mdash; Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1778445079566254433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;To be clear, no, there is no truth or accuracy in that post at all,&#8221; McCabe said, adding that &#8220;702 authorities were never used in the course of that investigation of Donald Trump and his campaign and some of his campaign associates.&#8221;
Trump &#8220;may be referring to the FISA that was obtained to surveil Carter Page. We now know there are many mistakes in that FISA. Those are all regrettable. But that is not Section 702. Totally different thing here,&#8221; McCabe said.
&#8220;My guess &#8230; is that it&#8217;s not surprising that Donald Trump is against surveillance capacity and authority for the FBI because he is someone who&#8217;s been investigated by the FBI. But, nevertheless, he is absolutely wrong on this count,&#8221; he added.
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McCabe signed an application seeking FISA authority to spy on Page, part of a <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/1442002/doj-inspector-general-finds-17-significant-errors-or-omissions-in-carter-page-fisa-applications/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chain of approval</a> that came under fire over its partial reliance on an unverified dossier, and <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2185157/andrew-mccabe-shocked-and-disappointed-by-problems-found-in-carter-page-fisa-warrant-he-approved/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified</a> to Congress he would not have done so knowing what he learned later.
The Trump Department of Justice <a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/03/16/571671917/justice-department-fires-embattled-fbi-deputy-director-just-short-of-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired</a> McCabe from the FBI in 2018 — hours before he was set to retire with a pension — after an inspector general report faulting him for a <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mccabe-show-lack-candor-comey-doj-inspector-general/story?id=54450687" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;lack of candor&#8221;</a> regarding disclosures to the media.
McCabe sued over his firing in 2019, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/us/politics/mccabe-trump-fbi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claiming</a> his dismissal was &#8220;politically motivated and retaliatory&#8221; following his leadership in the Trump-Russia investigation, and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/us/politics/mccabe-trump-fbi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won back</a> his pension and other benefits in a 2021 settlement.
Some lawmakers who opposed advancing the FISA bill this week have demanded a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4584117-fisa-spy-powers-rules-warrant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warrant requirement</a> for officials seeking to <a href="https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-major-legislation-end-warrantless-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access data concerning U.S. citizens</a> — ostensibly for law enforcement — that gets swept up in monitoring foreign persons.
FBI Director Christopher Wray is among those pushing to preserve FISA&#8217;s Section 702 authorities, <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?534718-1/fbi-director-testifies-fy-2025-budget-request&amp;vod&amp;start=1028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling</a> Congress on Thursday they are &#8220;critical&#8221; to protecting Americans and claiming that adding a warrant requirement would be &#8220;dangerous.&#8221;
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-kill-fisa-as-lawmakers-consider-surveillance-reauthorization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> the FISA bill, as it stands, would not only reauthorize Section 702 for five years, but also implement reforms that would “actually kill the abuses” directed at Trump’s 2016 campaign.
After the vote on Wednesday, in which 19 Republicans joined with all voting Democrats to oppose consideration of the FISA bill, Johnson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wray-calls-for-restoration-of-section-702-of-fisa-potential-for-a-coordinated-attack-in-u-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> lawmakers will &#8220;regroup&#8221; and insisted the United States &#8220;can’t allow a critical tool like this to just expire.&#8221;

Andrew McCabe

Fired Top FBI Official Concedes ‘Many Mistakes’ In Trump FISA Scandal

Fired Top FBI Official Concedes 'Many Mistakes' In Trump FISA Scandal

FBI Director Christopher Wray <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-director-concerned-lone-wolf-small-groups-draw/story?id=109109335">called</a> for the restoration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the federal government to gather communications from non-Americans overseas on U.S.-based platforms, but which has also been abused in the past to monitor American citizens.
The much-scrutinized law is up for renewal but failed to pass a key hurdle Wednesday amid internal debate among Republicans about adding adequate protections against future abuse of the law.
Wray, speaking to Congress, cited his “immediate concern” being “individuals or small groups [who] will draw twisted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home.&#8221;
&#8220;But now increasingly concerning is the potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, akin to the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russia Concert Hall a couple weeks ago,&#8221; Wray added.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has <a href="https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702%20Documents/FISA_Section_702_Fact_Sheet_JUN2023.pdf">pointed out</a> how FISA has been used successfully to combat dangers to the U.S.:
<blockquote>
Section 702-acquired information revealed: Insights that have informed the U.S. Government’s understanding of the Chinese origins of a chemical used to synthesize fentanyl; foreign actors’ illicit plans to smuggle methamphetamine across the U.S. border; the quantities and potency of drugs, including fentanyl, destined for illegal transfer to the United States, as well as specific smuggling techniques used to avoid detection; and a foreign narcotics trafficker’s purchase of a vast quantity of pills for transfer to the United States. Section 702-acquired information has been used to identify multiple foreign ransomware attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure. This intelligence positioned the U.S. Government to respond to and mitigate these events, and in some instances prevent significant attacks on U.S. networks.
Section 702-acquired information related to sanctioned foreign adversaries was used in U.S. Government efforts to stop weapons of mass destruction components from reaching foreign actors. Section 702 has identified threats to U.S. troops and disrupted planned terrorist attacks at home and abroad, and contributed to the successful operation against Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2022.
</blockquote>
Though information gained from Section 702 has played a key role in national security efforts, it has also come under heavy fire from those concerned about its potential use to gather information on American citizens. The most notorious incident involved then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016 when intelligence gained from Section 702 was used to spy on Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
Trump encouraged House Republicans this week to oppose reinstating FISA. “KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!” he wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon.
Nineteen House Republicans blocked the procedural measure to bring the matter to a vote on Wednesday. Critics of the bill said the revisions spearheaded by Republicans were not enough to ensure that the law isn&#8217;t abused going forward.
House Speaker Mike Johnson <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republicans-are-chaos-fighting-key-surveillance-tool-rcna147175">said</a> after the vote Wednesday, “We will regroup and reformulate another plan. We cannot allow Section 702 of FISA to expire. It&#8217;s too important to national security.”
“We have to strike the balance government always does. You have to &#8230; jealously guard the fundamental liberty of American people,” Johnson added. “You protect the liberty, but at the same time, you got to protect your security. And we can’t allow a critical tool like this to just expire and go out of use.”
 9/11 Families United, an organization representing the families of 9/11 victims, <a href="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/911-Families-Support-for-702-Reauthorization.pdf">stated</a>, “It is our belief that the failure to renew Section 702 would be detrimental to American national security and would put Americans at risk of new terrorist attacks.”

House Intelligence Committee Hears Testimony On The 2024 Annual Threat Assessment

Wray Calls For Restoration Of Section 702 of FISA: ‘Potential For A Coordinated Attack’ In U.S.

Christopher Wray

On Wednesday, the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> blocked the advancement of a bill that sought to reauthorize Section 702 of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)</a> for <a href="https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lee-introduces-risa-act-significant-reforms-fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">five years</a> and implement reforms on the controversial spy tool.
The vote tanked a rule to bring the legislation up for consideration, creating a major setback for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who vouched for the bill after former President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-kill-fisa-as-lawmakers-consider-surveillance-reauthorization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> lawmakers to reject the spy program used to monitor non-U.S. citizens abroad.
Nineteen Republicans joined with all voting Democrats to oppose moving forward. The final tally was <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2024/roll108.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">193-228</a>. Ten members, including six Republicans and four Democrats, did not vote.
What leadership will do next is not immediately clear, but it is possible lawmakers will go for <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/house-approves-defense-spending-package-surveillance-program-extension/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another extension</a> with no reforms. They have until <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/09/congress-fisa-surveillance-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">April 19</a> to reauthorize Section 702 before it sunsets.
Many of the lawmakers who opposed the bill demanded the addition of a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4584117-fisa-spy-powers-rules-warrant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warrant requirement</a> for government officials seeking to <a href="https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-major-legislation-end-warrantless-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access data concerning U.S. citizens</a> — ostensibly for law enforcement purposes — that gets swept up in the monitoring of foreign persons.
&#8220;There is no shortage of spying authority abuses by the weaponized FBI. Get a warrant,&#8221; Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAndyBiggsAZ/status/1778110486124319200" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X, after noting &#8220;3.4 million warrantless searches of Americans&#8217; private communications. 278,000 improper searches on American citizens. 19,000 improper searches of donors to a congressional candidate.&#8221;
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also pushed for a warrant amendment to &#8220;protect&#8221; Americans. &#8220;FISA bill says FBI has to notify Congressmembers to spy on us, but regular Americans can be spied on without a warrant?&#8221; she <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJayapal/status/1777879620068442577" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> on X.
Trump, who is again running for the presidency, posted to Truth Social earlier in the day voicing opposition. &#8220;KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!&#8221; he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/112245329328818599" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, along with his initials.
The former president has criticized the surveillance tool ever since it emerged that the FBI snooped on his 2016 campaign aide <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-fbi-spied-on-carter-page-now-hes-suing-them-for-75-million" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carter Page</a>, using an unverified dossier to obtain warrants under a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4463961-house-unveils-warrantless-surveillance-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different part of FISA, Section 701</a>.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1778076099651444805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters he looked forward to discussing the FISA issue with Trump, saying the former president is &#8220;not wrong&#8221; about its misuse.
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The FISA 702 reauthorization legislation contains reforms that would &#8220;actually kill the abuses&#8221; directed at Trump&#8217;s 2016 campaign, Johnson insisted.
&#8220;There are massive new, for example, criminal and civil penalties for using opposition research or leaking FISA applications or illegal spying. If an FBI agent or an attorney is involved in something like that, under these reforms in this reform package, they could get 10 years of jail time,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s real teeth,&#8221; Johnson added. &#8220;And there&#8217;s a number of other reforms and measures in there. President Trump used the intel from this program to kill terrorists and we have to kill the abuses.&#8221;

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)

House Blocks FISA Spy Bill, Opponents Demand Warrant Requirement

Ahead of a deadline next week to reauthorize Section 702 of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)</a>, former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> urged lawmakers on Wednesday to reject the controversial spy program used to monitor non-U.S. citizens abroad.
&#8220;KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/112245329328818599" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in an all-caps post to his Truth Social account, along with his initials.
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<a href="https://t.co/jsz7307Fu2">pic.twitter.com/jsz7307Fu2</a>
&mdash; Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) <a href="https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1778037943485010025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The message came as House Republicans were <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1778037590370713740" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected to huddle</a> and talk about <a href="https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lee-introduces-risa-act-significant-reforms-fisa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the bill</a>, which includes reforms and a five-year authorization to FISA Section 702, after it <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4584117-fisa-spy-powers-rules-warrant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> through the Rules Committee on Tuesday. They have until <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/09/congress-fisa-surveillance-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">April 19</a> to reauthorize Section 702 before it sunsets.
While leaders have pressed ahead, conservative and far-left lawmakers sounded off about privacy concerns. One particular reform sought by some Republicans is a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4584117-fisa-spy-powers-rules-warrant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warrant requirement</a> for government officials to access collected information for law enforcement purposes.
&#8220;I&#8217;m with President Trump. FISA has been significantly abused to illegally spy and trample on the privacy rights of millions of Americans,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1778063125033390549" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO). &#8220;Time to kill it and get back to the way our Constitution intended things to be! Get a warrant.&#8221;
Last-minute alterations to the FISA Section 702 reauthorization bill could jeopardize its chances of advancing through both the House, which is held by Republicans, and the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.
Preventing a lapse &#8220;will take bipartisan cooperation and swift action,&#8221; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-the-senate-agenda-for-this-work-period-and-calling-on-the-house-to-pass-the-bipartisan-national-security-supplemental" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in remarks this week. He added that the Senate &#8220;stands ready to jump into action to prevent this important national security authority from lapsing.&#8221;
Section 702 got a <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/house-approves-defense-spending-package-surveillance-program-extension/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-month extension</a> in December as part of a defense spending bill shortly after two FISA proposals got pulled in the House as lawmakers <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/politics/house-gop-leadership-pulls-dueling-fisa-bills/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">could not agree</a> on how to proceed. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SMJ-FISA-Dear-Colleague-4-5-24.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in a recent letter that the House would try again this week.
House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), a proponent of the reauthorization bill his panel helped craft, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4579696-rep-turner-confident-fisa-bill-will-pass-this-is-not-a-warrantless-surveillance-of-americans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insisted to CNN</a> over the weekend that it was &#8220;not a warrantless surveillance of Americans&#8221; as it targets a &#8220;select group&#8221; of people aboard who pose a national security threat.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the U.S. to collect information on foreign nationals outside America.
Today, I told <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JakeTapper</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNNSOTU</a> that our ability to keep Americans safe depends on Congress reforming and reauthorizing FISA Section 702. <a href="https://t.co/y9QstgkKHG">pic.twitter.com/y9QstgkKHG</a>
&mdash; US Rep. Mike Turner (@RepMikeTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeTurner/status/1776987207460421757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump, who is again running for president, has criticized the surveillance tool ever since it emerged that the FBI snooped on his 2016 campaign aide <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-fbi-spied-on-carter-page-now-hes-suing-them-for-75-million" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carter Page</a>, using an unverified dossier to obtain warrants under a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4463961-house-unveils-warrantless-surveillance-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different part of FISA, Section 701</a>. After much criticism, the bureau unveiled <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-director-christopher-wray-response-to-inspector-general-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changes</a> to its FISA processes.
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Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he looks forward to discussing the FISA issue with Trump, noting the former president is &#8220;not wrong&#8221; about misuse of the surveillance tool. He said the FISA 702 reauthorization legislation contains reforms that would &#8220;actually kill the abuses&#8221; directed at Trump&#8217;s 2016 campaign.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> on former President Trump&#39;s statement this morning to kill the FISA reform bill: &quot;I look forward to talking with him about it. Here&#39;s the thing about FISA, he&#39;s not wrong, of course&#8230;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/fku21268Yk">pic.twitter.com/fku21268Yk</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1778076099651444805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;There are massive new, for example, criminal and civil penalties for using opposition research or leaking FISA applications or illegal spying. If an FBI agent or an attorney is involved in something like that, under these reforms in this reform package, they could get 10 years of jail time,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s real teeth,&#8221; Johnson added. &#8220;And there&#8217;s a number of other reforms and measures in there. President Trump used the intel from this program to kill terrorists and we have to kill the abuses.&#8221;

Former President Donald Trump

Trump Says ‘Kill FISA’ As Lawmakers Consider Surveillance Reauthorization

Trump Says 'Kill FISA' As Lawmakers Consider Surveillance Reauthorization 

U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) said during an interview over the weekend that he expects the House of Representatives to re-authorize FISA Section 702 before it expires later this month.
FISA Section 702 authorizes the targeted collection of foreign intelligence information from non-U.S. persons located overseas and is critical to defending against national security threats, U.S. officials say.
Hill, who is on the Intelligence Committee, made the remarks during a Sunday interview on CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; with Margaret Brennan when he was asked about increased terror threat levels from Islamic terrorists.
&#8220;I am confident that we will have support for renewing the authorization for the use of 702, which is a critical element – I&#8217;ve seen in intimate detail the vital role that 702 surveillance plays in keeping America safe,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think Congress will come together and we&#8217;ll reauthorize its use. But that&#8217;s also going to be part of 50 reforms in how the FISA court, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and how the act operates. And it will be the first serious reforms in probably some 20 years. And these are 50 bipartisan reforms and reforms that I believe have the full support of House Republicans.&#8221;
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="GOP Rep. French Hill says Ukraine aid is &quot;critical&quot; and it should have &quot;passed months ago&quot;" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RfStQrZdke4?start=62&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Hill said that after the FISA extension passes, he expects that House Speaker Mike Johnson &#8220;will bring up support for the supplemental appropriations for Ukraine, for Taiwan, for Israel.&#8221;
&#8220;Ukraine remains a priority, as does our support for Israel and Taiwan,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And, yes, I believe he&#8217;s fully committed to bringing it up to the floor immediately thereafter. And I think that&#8217;s critical, as it should have been passed months ago.&#8221;

House Members Attend GOP Retreat At Greenbrier Resort

French Hill Signals House To Reauthorize Use Of FISA Section 702

Media

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a> passed the annual defense policy bill this week, authorizing $886 billion for a host of national security programs for the current fiscal year that began on October 1 — about <a href="https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/strong-bipartisan-national-defense-authorization-act-passes-congress-securing-major-wins-for-north-dakota" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3% higher</a> than the previous year&#8217;s levels.
The Democrat-led Senate approved the legislation, known as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schumer-says-credible-sources-claim-ufo-info-withheld-from-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)</a>, in a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00343.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">87-13 vote</a> on Wednesday, and the GOP-controlled House followed suit by passing the legislation in a <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023723" target="_blank" rel="noopener">310-118 vote</a> on Thursday, sending the legislation to President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> for a signature.
The final NDAA, a compromise of the House and Senate version that came out of the <a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20231211/FY24%20NDAA%20Conference%20Report%20-%20%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conference process</a>, sets national security policies with a heavy focus on boosting the military, improving technology development, and countering U.S. adversaries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
&#8220;At a time of huge trouble for global security, passing the defense authorization bill is more important than ever,&#8221; <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-senate-passage-of-the-bipartisan-national-defense-authorization-act-conference-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chuck-schumer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chuck Schumer</a> (D-NY). &#8220;It will ensure America can hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese Communist Party, and ensures that America’s military remains state of the art at all times, all around the world.&#8221;
Within its many provisions, the NDAA boasts a <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1735326741478916242" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5.2% pay raise</a> for members of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/military" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military</a> — the <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/12/14/biggest-military-pay-raise-20-years-heads-bidens-desk-signature-part-of-annual-defense-bill.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">largest bump</a> in 20 years — sections that seek to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/politics/ndaa-defense-bill-what-is/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restrain facets of &#8220;woke&#8221; ideology</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ufo-whistleblower-calls-for-executive-action-after-greatest-legislative-failure-in-american-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pared-down UFO disclosure language</a>, a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/congress-poised-extend-domestic-surveillance-law-by-four-months-2023-12-07/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-month extension</a> of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-asks-congress-to-reauthorize-fisa-surveillance-powers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Section 702</a> of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the authorization of $600 million to boost a Ukraine security assistance program spread across the next couple years, and much more.
The NDAA does not provide <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57660" target="_blank" rel="noopener">budget authority</a>, which is <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670" target="_blank" rel="noopener">given in appropriations legislation</a>, and it is separate from the supplemental national security package being debated in Congress at the behest of Biden. Democrats are trying to pass more than $100 billion in funds for Ukraine, Israel, and more, but Republicans demand <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-holds-firm-after-meeting-zelensky-no-ukraine-aid-without-border-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;transformative&#8221; border security reforms</a> be included in it.
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Counted among the NDAA&#8217;s opponents were many Republicans and some Democrats. Some cited objections to the temporary extension of FISA Section 702, which has long stirred <a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1735353014389457309" target="_blank" rel="noopener">privacy concerns</a>, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRosendale/status/1735316486279819464" target="_blank" rel="noopener">additional funds for Ukraine</a>. Others argued that the NDAA did not do enough to crack down on &#8220;woke&#8221; initiatives, the <a href="https://twitter.com/TXRandy14/status/1735306579921019346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;radical climate agenda,&#8221;</a> and taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries. &#8220;The NDAA is a BAD deal,&#8221; Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/TXRandy14/status/1735306579921019346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

Congress Passes $886 Billion Defense Policy Bill With Military Pay Raise, Spy Tool Extension, And Ukraine Aid

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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fbi">FBI</a> access to data collected by a controversial spy tool intended to protect against national security threats should be restricted, an advisory panel recommended to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/white-house">White House</a>.
A <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Presidents-Intelligence-Advisory-Board-and-Intelligence-Oversight-Board-Review-of-FISA-Section-702-and-Recommendations-for-Reauthorization.pdf">report</a> by the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), which the White House released on Monday with light redactions, offered a number of ways to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act&#8217;s (FISA) Section 702. First on the list was the recommendation that the attorney general be directed to &#8220;remove FBI’s authority to conduct queries for evidence of a non-national security-related crime in its Section 702 data.&#8221;
&#8220;FBI’s use of Section 702 should be limited to foreign intelligence purposes only and FBI personnel should receive additional training on what foreign intelligence entails,&#8221; the report said. &#8220;In the event that FBI encounters evidence of a non-national security-related crime while reviewing Section 702 data, existing intelligence community procedures for handling evidence of such crimes uncovered in the course of reviewing intelligence information should be applied.&#8221;
Section 702, which was <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/how-we-investigate/intelligence/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-fisa-and-section-702">enacted in 2008</a> and allows government officials to conduct <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/how-we-investigate/intelligence/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-fisa-and-section-702#:~:text=FISA%20Section%20702%20is%20an,takes%20action%20to%20reauthorize%20it.">&#8220;targeted&#8221;</a> searches of non-U.S. citizens abroad without a warrant, is set to expire at the end of the year. As Congress considers reauthorization, with both Republicans and Democrats raising concerns about Fourth Amendment rights and abuse of intrusive surveillance capabilities, the White House has said Section 702 is essential to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-asks-congress-to-reauthorize-fisa-surveillance-powers">protect national security</a> and should be preserved.
Multiple agencies <a href="https://www.dni.gov/files/FISA_Section_702/Finding_Foreign_Intelligence_Information_Section_702_FISA.pdf">can make Section 702 queries</a> for email, phone and other types of information, but the FBI in particular has come under intense scrutiny.
A Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court filing released this spring said the bureau improperly used that trove of information <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-misused-surveillance-tool-over-278000-times-report">over 278,000 times</a> in recent years that resulted in the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-improperly-searched-spy-database-for-information-on-americans-court-says-2f12bcd">collection of data</a> about Capitol riot suspects, George Floyd protest demonstrators, and American donors to a congressional campaign. In addition, a Department of Justice (DOJ) audit of the FBI in 2021 found a &#8220;large number of noncompliant incidents,&#8221; some of which included &#8220;individuals arrested during the January 6 Capitol breach,&#8221; the PIAB report said.
As noted by the <a href="https://www.intel.gov/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act/1237-fisa-section-702">U.S. intelligence community</a>, Section 702 allows for the targeting of &#8220;non-United States persons who are reasonably believed to be located outside the United States,&#8221; but not Americans or anyone in the United States. Also prohibited under Section 702 is &#8220;reverse targeting,&#8221; meaning the intelligence community &#8220;may not target a non-U.S. person located outside the U.S. if the purpose of the collection is to collect information about a United States person or anyone located in the United States.&#8221;
Oversight authorities have found rampant misuse of the database in recent years, reporting that &#8220;most compliance incidents have been attributable to FBI’s pervasive lack of understanding regarding query standards,&#8221; the PIAB report said. Though the panel said its members &#8220;did not find FBI personnel willfully using Section 702 for political purposes, and intentional misconduct of FBI querying for any reason was exceedingly rare,&#8221; the FBI&#8217;s &#8220;conduct has nevertheless undermined public confidence in its ability to use Section 702 in the way it was intended.&#8221;
The FBI has implemented <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-deputy-director-highlights-bureau-s-new-fisa-query-accountability-procedures#Fact-Sheet">reforms</a> feared toward improving FISA compliance, including more <a href="https://www.justice.gov/d9/pages/attachments/2023/03/03/recent_efforts_to_strengthen_fisa_compliance_02.28.23.pdf">stringent reviewing processes and training</a>. In a <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/how-we-investigate/intelligence/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-fisa-and-section-702">statement</a> on Monday, the FBI stated the PIAB report recognizes that the changes it has made have &#8220;yielded substantial compliance improvements&#8221; and said it agreed that Section 702 should be reauthorized &#8220;in a manner that does not diminish its effectiveness, as well as reassures the public of its importance and our ability to adhere rigorously to all relevant rules.&#8221;
Though the PIAB report did acknowledge the FBI put in place reforms since 2021 &#8220;that have led to significant improvements in compliance noted&#8221; by the DOJ and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, it said the board found them to be &#8220;insufficient to ensure compliance and earn the public&#8217;s trust.&#8221;
Among the other recommendations it made was to direct the FBI director to designate a compliance officer to ensure appropriate use of Section 702 in each field office and FBI headquarters and to create a &#8221; common culture of compliance across the FBI workforce that employs Section 702 authorities through senior personnel exchanges.&#8221;
Two top officials in President Joe Biden&#8217;s White House — National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer — said in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/07/31/statement-from-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-and-principal-deputy-national-security-advisor-jon-finer-on-the-presidents-intelligence-advisory-boards-review-of-section-702-o/">statement</a> that they agree with PIAB&#8217;s &#8220;recommendation that Section 702 should be reauthorized without new and operationally damaging restrictions on reviewing intelligence lawfully collected by the government and with measures that build on proven reforms to enhance compliance and oversight, among other improvements.&#8221;
They added: &#8220;We look forward to reviewing the Board’s recommendations for how we can secure this critical national security authority and to working with Congress to ensure its reauthorization.&#8221;

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FBI Access To Spy Tool Should Be Restricted, White House Advisers Say

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