Providing for Consideration of H.R. Iran Counterterrorism Act of Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Condemning Iran's Unprecedented Drone and Missile Attack on Israel; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of Providing for Consideration of H.R. to Provide for the Rescission of Certain Waivers and Licenses Relating to Iran, and for Other Purposes; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act; and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is good to stand with him on this very important topic.

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 4639, which is the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act included in the rule before us today.

I have to tell you, I am standing shoulder to shoulder here. Although you don't see them, every major law enforcement agency in this country is standing with me in this opposition. The Fraternal Order of Police, Major County Sheriffs of America, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs' Association, and the list goes on.

I am disappointed to say that the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act truly is one of the most antipolice bills I have seen since I have been in Congress.

No one's Fourth Amendment rights are being bought. No one's Fourth Amendment rights are being sold. No one's Fourth Amendment rights are being violated.

This bill will simply block law enforcement from accessing open- source, commercially available, lawfully collected data that can help them solve crimes. It can help them develop probable cause.

Google and Facebook can access this data. The Chinese can access this data. Cartels and criminals can access this data. But we are not going to let the police access this data.

Now, my advocates will say: Private citizens and foreign adversaries can't put you in jail. Well, that may be true. Some of them can actually do worse to you.

Here is the thing that we need to remember: No one can put you in jail without probable cause of committing a crime. This is open-source data. Only law enforcement will be blocked from collecting and accessing this data.

The bottom line is, the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act will make communities far less safe, Mr. Speaker.

I adamantly oppose this bill. I will still vote ``yes'' on the rule because I believe in our process of regular order that gives Members the opportunity to hear both sides, debate, offer amendments, and, ultimately, vote a bill up or down. I am absolutely good with that.

Lately, some of my colleagues claim that they want regular order, yet they vote against regular order time and time again when they join with the Democrats to take down a rule. Seven times, I think, since I have been in Congress we have seen these rules go down. It is their way or the highway, and that is sad.

We promised the American people we would do better. Voting down a rule is not doing better.

Mr. Speaker, let's pass this rule. Let's pass the bills included in this rule that will punish Iranian aggression toward our ally Israel. Then, let's defeat the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act, which is only going to make our communities less safe.

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