The U.S. House of Representatives passed the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) a week before it was set to expire.
The bill, which extends and reforms Section 702 of FISA passed by a 273-147 vote. An amendment that would have added a warrant requirement for Americans’ data swept up in foreign surveillance failed to pass shortly before the final vote.
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) was the only member of the Alabama congressional delegation to vote against the bill.
“This legislation is called the ‘Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,’ but it has been used hundreds of thousands of times to violate Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights and spy on them without a warrant,” Moore said in a statement. “I refuse to support legislation that allows the intelligence community, who has recently spent its resources weaponizing against pro-life grandmothers, concerned parents at school board meetings, Catholics, and Biden’s political opponents, to freely spy on American citizens.”
I voted against reauthorizing #FISA without a warrant requirement.
The Fourth Amendment is not a suggestion. If the government wants to spy on American citizens, they should have to get a warrant. pic.twitter.com/mEgtOqVSl9
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) April 12, 2024
Before the final vote, Moore spoke on the House floor showing his support for an amendment to the bill that would require the FISA court to get a warrant.
Follow the Constitution. Get a warrant. #FISA pic.twitter.com/x6XPlr4Gqz
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) April 12, 2024
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) said the legislation included enough reforms to get his vote.
“In 2016, the FBI used information paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign to secure a FISA warrant authorizing federal spying on President Trump’s campaign. It was the greatest political scandal in U.S. history, and if this bill had been in place at the time, it wouldn’t have happened,” Strong said in a statement. “As President Biden has gutted border enforcement and inflamed international tensions, America is facing unprecedented threats. Congress has a responsibility to protect the American people from these threats while making sure that the tools we provide cannot be abused by political leadership at the Department of Justice.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) argued that this bill would prevent further abuse by the Department of Justice.
My full statement on reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gnheYfKgL3
— Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) April 12, 2024
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said the FISA is an important tool to help keep America safe.
“FISA is critical for our national security, especially at a time when we have no idea who is in our country due to the border crisis President Biden has created,” Palmer said. “Today’s bill addressed ending the abuses while providing the tools we need to protect us from attack.”
FISA is critical for our national security, especially at a time when we have no idea who is in our country due to the border crisis President Biden has created.
Today's bill addressed ending the abuses while providing the tools we need to protect us from attack.
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) April 12, 2024
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.