Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is a unique and critical tool that enables our intelligence community to gather vital intelligence, protect our national security, and safeguard Americans from terrorist attacks. No other foreign intelligence authority or any other means of collection can replace the speed and agility of section 702.

If this authority expires, we will substantially degrade U.S. national security and our intelligence officers' ability to identify foreign threats in real time.

Last Congress, House Republicans delivered critical reforms, as we referred to, in section 702--56, in fact--and this bill builds on that progress by strengthening privacy protections for Americans, while ensuring the tool precisely targets foreign persons and only foreign persons who pose a threat to the United States.

As President Trump, Chairman Dan Caine, Director Ratcliffe, and many other national security leaders, including Ranking Member Himes, have stated, this 3-year extension is essential to protect our homeland, our warfighters, and U.S. personnel stationed abroad, especially in today's volatile global threat environment.

Mr. Speaker, we must pass this bill. If we do not, we will get something from our colleagues in the Senate that will be far, far inferior, and those who truly care about national security in this body on both sides of the aisle who may be contemplating a ``no'' vote will regret such a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides to vote for this bill.

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