<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> Republicans revealed on Wednesday details about <a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/cole-releases-series-security-supplemental-bills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a trio of bills</a> to provide foreign aid to U.S. allies and a plan to vote on the legislation by the weekend.
One <a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/republicans.appropriations.house.gov/files/Israel%2C%20Ukraine%2C%20Indo-Pacific%20Security%20Supplemental%20Appropriations%20Acts%20-%20One%20Pager.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> aims to provide $26 billion with a stated focus on supporting Israel in its defensive effort and reimbursing U.S. military operations in response to recent attacks. Humanitarian aid, <a href="https://twitter.com/Grace_Segers/status/1780638286924448057" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a key priority for Democrats</a>, was included in the legislation.
A second bill would give nearly $61 billion toward the Ukraine-Russia conflict and provide assistance to regional partners. Around a third of the money is earmarked for replenishing U.S. military assets. There is also a mandate for repayment of economic support by the Ukrainian government.
Yet another bill is designed to allocate roughly $8 billion to Indo-Pacific partners, including Taiwan, and strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the region to deter and counter aggression from China.
Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-proposes-separate-bills-on-israel-and-ukraine-aid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Monday that the House would consider national security supplemental legislation, which the Biden administration has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sought</a> for months, after Iran launched a missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend.
In a message to colleagues on Wednesday, seeming to anticipate pushback from GOP hardliners, Johnson said the House would also consider other measures that Republicans would support.
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Speaker Johnson sent the following message to his members: 
“After significant Member feedback and discussion, the House Rules Committee will be posting soon today the text of three bills that will fund America’s national security interests and allies in Israel, the…
&mdash; Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1780617115021553696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The three foreign aid bills will &#8220;brought to the floor under a structured rule that will allow for an amendment process, alongside a fourth bill that includes the REPO Act, TikTok bill, sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China, and Iran,&#8221; Johnson said.
Johnson also said the Rules Committee would soon be posting the text of legislation that includes the &#8220;core components&#8221; of H.R.2, a sweeping border security bill the House passed last year, &#8220;under a separate rule that will allow for amendments.&#8221;
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Members of the House Freedom Caucus signaled early opposition to the plan.
&#8220;The Republican Speaker of the House is seeking a rule to pass almost $100 billion in foreign aid — while unquestionably, dangerous criminals, terrorists, &amp; fentanyl pour across our border,&#8221; Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/chiproytx/status/1780617487849025932" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X. &#8220;The border &#8216;vote&#8217; in this package is a watered-down dangerous cover vote. I will oppose.&#8221;
Republicans have a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/slim-house-gop-majority-gets-narrower" target="_blank" rel="noopener">narrow</a> <a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority</a> in the House. If there are GOP defectors, support from Democrats would be needed to pass the bills.
In the Democrat-controlled Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had called on the House to take up a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-passes-95-billion-foreign-aid-bill-despite-opposition-from-over-half-of-republican-senators" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$95 billion foreign aid bill</a> it passed in February. But, on Wednesday, President Joe Biden released a <a href="https://twitter.com/jamiedupree/status/1780662230607949972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that said he &#8220;strongly&#8221; supports the House legislation and encouraged both chambers of Congress to pass the package.
Johnson told colleagues that leadership expects a vote on final passage of the bills on Saturday evening, a move that honors the 72-hour rule to allow members three days to read the text of the legislation.

Speaker Mike Johnson

House GOP Unveils Foreign Aid Bills, Expects Final Vote Over Weekend

Congress

Israel

Mike Johnson

National Security

Politics

U.S. House of Representatives

Ukraine

This week, the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> will consider separate bills to provide aid to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a> as well as other foreign causes, Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) announced on Monday.
The plan is to take up &#8220;national security supplemental legislation on the growing security crises&#8221; with a &#8220;with a structured and germane amendment process,&#8221; Johnson <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1780005877132444038" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.
He listed multiple different bills, but left out certain details, such as how much each one might cost the American taxpayer.
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I have just spoken with the <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseGOP</a> conference on my plan to address national security supplemental legislation on the growing security crises.   This week, we will consider separate bills with a structured and germane amendment process to:
•Fund our ally Israel •Support…
&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1780005877132444038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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One bill will provide funds to Israel while another will support Ukraine in its &#8220;war against Russian aggression,&#8221; Johnson said. He noted the third aims to &#8220;strengthen our allies in the Indo-Pacific,&#8221; which likely includes Taiwan.
Johnson also said the House will work to pass other &#8220;measures to counter our adversaries and strengthen our national security.&#8221;
Reports indicated the additional legislation could include <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/15/mike-johnson-ukraine-israel-taiwan-tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a TikTok ban</a>, a <a href="https://twitter.com/BretBaier/status/1779993758303486451" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lease program</a> for military assistance to Ukraine, use of the <a href="https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-whitehouse-applaud-committee-passage-of-repo-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REPO Act</a> to use seized assets from Russian oligarchs to help fund Ukraine&#8217;s war effort, <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1780017089907958100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and more</a>.
Johnson <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?534942-102/speaker-johnson-briefs-reporters-plan-aid-bills-israel-ukraine-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters the House will &#8220;honor&#8221; the 72-hour rule, allowing members three days to read the text of the legislation. He suggested legislation text could be released early Tuesday and votes may happen by Friday evening.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> (R-LA) announces plans for the House to vote this week on standalone aid bills for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. <a href="https://t.co/J49IzMEEPn">pic.twitter.com/J49IzMEEPn</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1780027549134835910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The announcement comes after Iran <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-says-house-will-try-again-with-israel-aid-following-iran-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched a drone and missile attack</a> on Israel over the weekend, prompting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-how-congress-is-responding-to-irans-attack-on-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declarations</a> of support from lawmakers on both sides for Israel.
Now could be the time for a break in the impasse on foreign aid. A House-passed bill that would have provided $14.3 billion in emergency aid to Israel with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offset got <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/senate-blocks-14-3-billion-in-aid-for-israel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blocked</a> in the Democrat-controlled Senate last year.
The Senate passed in February a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-passes-95-billion-foreign-aid-bill-despite-opposition-from-over-half-of-republican-senators" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$95 billion foreign aid bill</a>, but House GOP leadership declined to take up that package while demanding <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-sticks-with-border-first-stance-after-white-house-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border security reforms</a> be part of the equation.
In the upper chamber, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has called for the House to <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1779618624027640041" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pass</a> the Senate bill, noting that it received bipartisan support.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries/status/1779501281477845042" target="_blank" rel="noopener">done the same</a>, but he <a href="https://twitter.com/heatherscope/status/1779995872324989138" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> would not rule out Democrats voting for the rule governing the bills proposed by Johnson on Monday prior to seeing what the plan entailed.
Johnson <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1780015046069797316" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNN</a> that his &#8220;personal preference&#8221; was to pass the bills individually, but he also conceded that lawmakers were discussing whether they would ultimately be &#8220;merged together&#8221; in one package.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAndyBiggsAZ/status/1780050925169631464" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X that he supported considering the aid bills separately but objected to the idea of combining them.
Republicans have a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/slim-house-gop-majority-gets-narrower" target="_blank" rel="noopener">narrow</a> <a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority</a> in the House and can only endure a couple defectors in party-line votes if all members are participating.
The debate on providing supplemental national security assistance to U.S. allies stems back to last fall when President Joe Biden made a roughly <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$105 billion request</a> of Congress.
In addition to Johnson unveiling his plan to work on foreign aid, the House <a href="https://justthenews.com/government/security/holdhouse-overwhelmingly-approves-slate-iran-sanctions-bills-after-attack?utm_source=mux&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=tw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-republicans-prep-slate-of-sanctions-on-iran-after-attack-on-israel?%3Futm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwnewstwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sanctions</a> legislation and voted to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-overcomes-final-hurdle-to-send-fisa-reauthorization-bill-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">send</a> a FISA Section 702 reauthorization bill to the Senate on Monday.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA)

Speaker Johnson Proposes Separate Bills on Israel And Ukraine Aid

U.S.

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

FISA

Mike Turner

Surveillance

The White House leaked details of a call between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to placate &#8220;so-called peace activists&#8221; after Iran launched an assault on Israel, Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marco-rubio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marco Rubio</a> (R-FL) posited on Sunday.
Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN that he favors doing &#8220;anything&#8221; that can be done to protect U.S. troops in the region from being attacked when pressed on the prospect of U.S. retaliation.
&#8220;But Israel is not asking us to launch attacks on Iran. I &#8230; have ever heard the Israelis come to us and say, &#8216;Will you help us or will you attack Iran or go in after Iran? They&#8217;re not asking for that. They&#8217;re not asking for it,&#8221; Rubio said.
He then addressed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-to-netanyahu-u-s-will-not-back-counterstrike-against-iran-report?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reporting</a> that Biden told Netanyahu that the United States would not support a counterattack against Iran as the White House is concerned that escalating military action could have significant consequences for the region.
&#8220;I think we go from that to the other extreme, which is Joe Biden telling Netanyahu, &#8216;Take the win, don&#8217;t do anything.&#8217; And then his people leaking it to the media, leaking it to the press,&#8221; Rubio said. &#8220;And what it sets up is — they know that Israel is going to respond. They know this for a fact. So why would the White House leak it?&#8221;
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He added, &#8220;There&#8217;s only one reason they leaked that, and that is that so, when Israel does respond, the White House can say, &#8216;We told them not to do it,&#8217; and at least somehow, in some way appease the so-called peace activists &#8230; the so — cease-fire now people, who were out yesterday cheering the launch of hundreds of rockets and drones and missiles against Israel.&#8221;
A viral clip posted to X on Saturday showed leftist activists chanting &#8220;hands off Iran!&#8221; after Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel. The news outlet that published the video, The Free Press, <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/american-anti-war-activists-cheer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> the crowd applauded and someone did a &#8220;celebratory whistle&#8221; when the news broke.
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A few minutes after news broke that Iran had launched drones and missiles heading toward Israel, a crowd of far-left activists in Chicago started chanting “hands off Iran!” <a href="https://t.co/xuZZ8C0XyU">pic.twitter.com/xuZZ8C0XyU</a>
&mdash; The Free Press (@TheFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFP/status/1779284879886123267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Rubio explained that anyone who is encouraging major strikes on Israel — beyond simply demonstrating in favor of a cease-fire in Gaza where Israeli forces are fighting Iran-backed Hamas terrorists — is not a &#8220;peace activist,&#8221; as some might claim.
&#8220;These are antisemites, anti-Israel, pro-terrorist elements out there, and we need to stop calling them peace activists. They are not peace activists,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;Peace activists do not cheer massive attacks against other countries, which is what they were doing yesterday. So I guess this is part of the White House&#8217;s effort to appease them by putting this out there proactively,&#8221; Rubio added.

Sen. Marco Rubio

Rubio Suggests White House Leaked Israel Call To Appease ‘So-Called Peace Activists’

Rubio Suggests White House Leaked Israel Call To Appease 'So-Called Peace Activists'

Iran

Joe Biden

Marco Rubio

U.S. Senate

White House

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>
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&#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

Members of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a> changed plans for next week and issued statements in reaction to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-launches-cruise-missiles-ballistic-missiles-at-israel-reports?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran&#8217;s attack on Israel</a> this weekend, prompting the United States to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-u-k-shoot-down-100-iranian-drones-fired-at-israel-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">help its ally</a> fend off the onslaught.
The GOP-controlled House will &#8220;move from its previously announced legislative schedule next week to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveScalise/status/1779278241267617926" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA).
&#8220;The House of Representatives stands strongly with Israel, and there must be consequences for this unprovoked attack,&#8221; Scalise added. &#8220;More details on the legislative items to be considered will be forthcoming.&#8221;
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1779273302114001181" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the United States must show its &#8220;full resolve&#8221; in standing with Israel against the &#8220;vicious attack&#8221; from Iran.
&#8220;I will continue to engage with the White House to insist upon a proper response,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;The Biden Administration’s undermining of Israel and appeasement of Iran have contributed to these terrible developments.&#8221;
The top Democrat in the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries/status/1779279621957058834/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;America&#8217;s commitment to Israel&#8217;s security is ironclad and unbreakable&#8221; and declared that &#8220;Iran will not succeed. We stand with the people of Israel during this moment of significant challenge.&#8221;
In the Senate, which is led by the Democrats, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1779271515277504873" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;As Israel is under attack from Iran, we stand with Israel and its people, and the United States will do everything we can to support Israel’s defense against Iran.&#8221;
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Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called on President Joe Biden to lead an international effort to &#8220;impose sufficient costs on Tehran to compel an end to its aggression and terror.&#8221; He also urged Congress to &#8220;do its part&#8221; while alluding to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/j-d-vance-says-house-considering-foreign-aid-package-without-border-reforms-would-be-a-betrayal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$95 billion foreign aid bill</a>, which includes assistance for Israel, that the Senate has passed but the House has not taken up for consideration.
&#8220;The national security supplemental that has waited months for action will provide critical resources to Israel and our own military forces in the region,&#8221; McConnell said. &#8220;It will provide overdue lethal assistance to Ukraine and equip vulnerable allies and partners in Asia to deter the [People&#8217;s Republic of China]. And it will make urgent investments in our own defense industrial base.&#8221;
He continued, &#8220;We cannot hope to deter conflict without demonstrating resolve and investing seriously in American strength. The Commander-in-Chief and the Congress must discharge our fundamental duties without delay. The consequences of failure are clear, devastating, and avoidable.&#8221;
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1779278699415666748" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, Israel &#8220;has an inherent right to defend itself against these attacks from Iran and its proxies — before, during, and after they occur. I support President Biden&#8217;s ironclad commitment to Israel&#8217;s security, and his Administration taking steps necessary to aid Israel in the last several days as it prepared for this attack.&#8221;
The U.S. will &#8220;continue to stand with Israel,&#8221; Cardin added. &#8220;I strongly caution Iranian regime leaders to not widen this already ill-conceived attack. Such escalation, especially targeting U.S. personnel and assets, should be dealt with swiftly and decisively.&#8221;
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, <a href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-condemns-iran-attack-on-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Iran has encircled Israel and has been attacking our Israeli allies from almost every front for months. They have launched attacks from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the West Bank, Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon, and of course the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.&#8221;
Cruz continued, &#8220;Now they have escalated by launching attacks directly from Iranian territory. These attacks are enabled and financed by deliberate policy choices made by Joe Biden and Biden officials, who have allowed roughly $100 billion to flow to Iran since 2021. Americans and Israelis have been made catastrophically more vulnerable by these policies.&#8221;
The Texas Republican concluded, &#8220;Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Iran has made a huge mistake in attacking America’s closest ally in the Middle East. Israel will emerge from this crisis stronger. As I have always done, I stand with Israel to do whatever it takes to defend itself.&#8221;

House Reps. Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise

Here’s How Congress Is Responding To Iran’s Attack On Israel

Here’s How Congress Is Responding To Iran's Attack On Israel

World

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>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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.

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

An illegal alien from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Afghanistan</a> who is a member of an Islamic terrorist group is freely roaming the streets of America after the Biden administration released him into the country after he crossed the southern border.
NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/man-terror-watchlist-remains-us-released-border-patrol-rcna147192" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that 48-year-old Mohammad Kharwin spent a year roaming the streets of America after border officials released him in 2023.
Kharwin is on the FBI&#8217;s national terrorist watchlist because he &#8220;is a member of Hezb-e-Islami, or HIG, a political and paramilitary organization that the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization,&#8221; the report said.
The Director of National Intelligence <a href="https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/hezb_e_islami.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> that Hezb-e-Islami, or “Party of Islam,” is a &#8220;virulently anti-Western insurgent group whose goal is to replace the Western-backed Afghan Government with an Islamic state rooted in sharia.&#8221;
The terror suspect was arrested last month, but released again by an immigration judge in the Biden administration&#8217;s Department of Justice who was not told of his terrorist ties. He paid his $12,000 bond and was released and is out on bond and there are &#8220;no restrictions on his movements&#8221; inside the U.S., the report said.
He was released by the Biden administration because they reportedly &#8220;lacked corroborating information&#8221; confirming his terrorist ties, but they wouldn&#8217;t disclose what they were missing.
Kharwin has since applied for &#8220;asylum and work authorization,&#8221; and has flown domestically inside the U.S., the report said.
His next court date is not until next year, the report added.
The case comes just a couple months after another bombshell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terrorist-caught-at-border-released-into-country-not-caught-for-nearly-a-year-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> emerged about an Islamic terrorist with al-Shabaab who roamed the U.S. free for nearly a year.
In March 2023, according to an internal federal memo, federal authorities caught a terrorist illegally crossing the southern border, then shortly thereafter released him into the country, where he stayed before he was arrested recently in Minnesota.
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The terrorist, who was determined in mid-January 2024 to be a “confirmed member of al-Shabaab” by the Terrorist Screening Center, was initially considered a “mismatch” after his name was examined through the terror watchlist, The Daily Caller <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2024/01/29/exclusive-terrorist-caught-illegally-crossing-border-allowed-roam-free-nearly-year-memo-says/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. On January 20, he was caught in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Al-Shabaab was named a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in <a href="https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">March 2008.</a> The group pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda in 2012. According to the <a href="https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/al_shabaab_fto.html#:~:text=The%20US%20State%20Department%20designated,are%20Specially%20Designated%20Global%20Terrorists." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Counter-Terrorism Guide</a> for the Director of National Intelligence, “Since 2014 al-Shabaab has killed more US citizens than any other al Qa’ida affiliate, and as of 2022, was its wealthiest component.”

Second Anniversary Of Taliban’s Return To Power

Biden Admin Released Afghan Terrorist Into U.S. After He Illegally Crossed Border, Is Roaming Free: Report

Afghanistan

Biden Administration

Terrorism

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

On Tuesday, House Republicans demanded the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/state-department" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State Department</a> offer an explanation for the &#8220;trend&#8221; of U.S. embassy closures and staff evacuations during the past few years of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden administration</a>.
Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Secretary of State <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/antony-blinken" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antony Blinken</a> requesting a briefing on how the United States can meet its foreign policy objectives with a &#8220;diminished diplomatic presence&#8221; in &#8220;high-threat&#8221; countries.
The chairman noted the State Department has been &#8220;forced to reduce or suspend operations at several posts across the globe since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, including in Burma, Afghanistan, Belarus, Russia, Sudan, and Niger.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨BREAKING🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJamesComer</a> is investigating the Biden Administration’s series of embassy closures and partial evacuations around the world.
Since President Biden took office, the State Department has been forced to reduce or suspend operations at several posts across the… <a href="https://t.co/rWuC8pH6ow">pic.twitter.com/rWuC8pH6ow</a>
&mdash; Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1772692015328665924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Comer also listed Haiti, where an elite Marine team was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elite-marine-team-deployed-to-protect-u-s-embassy-in-haiti-as-country-descends-into-chaos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployed</a> to protect the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Port-au-Prince after the military <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-military-evacuates-embassy-staff-in-haiti-as-yet-another-country-erupts-in-turmoil-under-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evacuated</a> non-essential personnel as the country descended into chaos.
&#8220;Now, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti recently began evacuating some personnel and enhancing security given deteriorating conditions and gang violence close to the compound,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;These closures and service reductions are leading to a diminished U.S. diplomatic presence abroad,&#8221; Comer said. &#8220;Closures and reduced service status have serious implications for U.S. citizens residing in those countries, as well as foreign nationals who must travel elsewhere to access consular services.&#8221;
Comer said his committee is &#8220;also concerned about the repeated necessity of withdrawing U.S. personnel, and whether deteriorating conditions in those countries are the result, even in part, of failed U.S. foreign policy.&#8221;
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The chairman said his panel is requesting a briefing from the State Department &#8220;on this trend&#8221; by April 2.
&#8220;Briefers should specifically be prepared to identify and discuss all embassies or consulate posts experiencing closures or reduced services, other high-threat posts not currently in closure or reduced status, actions being taken to secure embassy personnel and assets at these high-threat posts, contingency plans to respond in emergency situations, an assessment of why this trend has occurred, and an assessment of whether this trend will continue,&#8221; Comer said.
&#8220;Briefers should also be prepared to discuss the impact of closures or reduced service status on national security, the administration and oversight of U.S. foreign assistance, and the Department’s ongoing ability to effectuate U.S. interests abroad,&#8221; he added.
The Daily Wire reached out to the State Department seeking comment.
In response, an agency spokesperson said the department does not comment on congressional correspondence as a &#8220;general matter.&#8221;

U.S. Embassy in Haiti

Comer Presses Biden Admin To Answer For ‘Trend’ Of Embassy Closures And Evacuations

Comer Presses Biden Admin To Answer For 'Trend' Of Embassy Closures And Evacuations

Antony Blinken

Embassy

Haiti

House Oversight Committee

House Republicans

James Comer

Seven Chinese nationals on Monday were accused by the Justice Department of targeting American journalists and political figures, including senior members of a 2020 presidential campaign team, in a wide-ranging hacking operation. 
The defendants, Ni Gaobin, Weng Ming, Cheng Feng, Peng Yaow, Sun Xiaohui, Xiong Wang, and Zhao Guangzong, are accused of aiding a Chinese-backed hacking group in support of China&#8217;s Ministry of State Security’s foreign political and business espionage as well as surveillance of Hong Kong democracy activists and the Uyghur people. The seven allegedly worked for the Hubei State Security Department, which surveilled thousands of American politicians, academics, journalists, and businessmen from 2010 to 2024, according to the <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/24-cr-43_indictment_redacted.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indictment</a>. 
“These allegations pull back the curtain on China’s vast illegal hacking operation that targeted sensitive data from U.S. elected and government officials, journalists and academics; valuable information from American companies; and political dissidents in America and abroad. Their sinister scheme victimized thousands of people and entities across the world, and lasted for well over a decade,” <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/seven-hackers-associated-chinese-government-charged-computer-intrusions-targeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. 
During one operation during the Trump administration that lasted from June to September 2018, hackers targeted Republican and Democrat senators from more than 10 states, White House officials, members of the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Treasury, and State, and members of Congress with malicious emails, the indictment said. These emails were reportedly also sent to the spouses of some of the political figures. 
In a different operation, multiple European politicians were targeted, including members of the European Union and more than three dozen parliamentary accounts in the United Kingdom, as part of surveillance into a group of politicians examining threats from the Chinese Communist Party.  
During the 2020 presidential election cycle, a non-specified campaign was targeted by hackers.
“In or about May 2020, the Conspirators began targeting email accounts belonging to several senior campaign staff members for a presidential campaign,” the indictment says. “In or about November 2020, the Conspirators sent emails containing tracking links to targets associated with additional political campaigns, including a retired senior U.S. government national security official.”
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The DOJ said in a press release that campaign staffers for Republicans and Democrats had been targeted ahead of the 2020 election but did not specify the campaigns or races. 
The indictment also said that millions of Americans were caught up in the hacking scheme, with phone call records, cloud storage accounts, and email accounts all being exposed. 
“America’s sovereignty extends to its cyberspace,” Peace added. “Today’s charges demonstrate my Office’s commitment to upholding and protecting that jurisdiction, and to putting an end to malicious nation state cyber activity.”

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

Chinese Nationals Charged With Hacking Senior Staffers For 2020 Presidential Campaign

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