Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CROW. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act to reauthorize section 702 of FISA.

As one of the Nation's most essential intelligence-gathering tools, the importance of reauthorizing FISA cannot be overstated. Every day, our Nation's diplomats, intelligence professionals, defense officials, soldiers, marines, and airmen rely on intelligence derived from section 702 to advance their missions and to protect our country.

It provides vital insights into the kinds of threats that we need to be able to protect Americans from, including threats against our critical infrastructure, our computer networks, our financial system, and our citizens.

This bill is the product of careful, bipartisan negotiations. These negotiations have insured that this bill will not only maintain the effectiveness of FISA, but also enhance protections for America's civil liberties. It makes targeted reforms to address compliance issues and to prevent abuses.

The amendment proposed by my colleagues to require a warrant before accessing this information, which has already been lawfully collected and reviewed by courts and is in the possession of the U.S. Government, would serve as a de facto ban on ever accessing it. It creates an unacceptable level of risk with consequences that will be felt almost immediately for Americans and our national security.

Therefore, Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject the Biggs amendment and to support the underlying bill.

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