Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16), leader of the bipartisan FISA 702 Working Group and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (OH-10), issued the following statement after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released its annual statistical transparency report regarding the use of national security surveillance authorities:
“While there was a sharp decline in U.S. person queries from December 2021 to November 2022, it is incumbent upon Congress, not the Executive Branch, to codify reforms to FISA Section 702.
“The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence launched a bipartisan working group to perform a thorough and comprehensive review of FISA and confront the missteps and inappropriate actions taken by the FBI. We need to pass substantive and meaningful reforms to help deter abusive behavior by the FBI in the FISA process.
“Without additional safeguards, a clean reauthorization of 702 is a non-starter.
“Section 702 of FISA is an irreplaceable national security tool that allows the Intelligence Community to collect information from foreign persons outside the United States. Section 702 has identified threats to U.S. troops and disrupted planned terrorist attacks both at home and abroad, prevented components needed to build weapons of mass destruction from reaching foreign actors, and contributed to successful efforts against fentanyl production and processing equipment in Mexico."
“However, we must protect the American people’s privacy and civil liberties. That is why the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence supports reforming our foreign surveillance tools and increasing transparency and accountability while maintaining the critical effectiveness of FISA Section 702.”
###
