Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman voted against H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act – a bill to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, section 702 (FISA Section 702). The bill passed the House of Representatives 273-147 without a key amendment to require the Department of Justice to obtain a warrant before conducting a search. That amendment, offered by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), got support from hardline conservatives and leftist members concerned about privacy, yet it failed to pass due to a 212-212 tie vote.
Representative Hageman stated, “Warrantless surveillance of the American people by the federal government in violation of their Fourth Amendment secured liberties is well documented and well known.
“As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I was proud to be involved in the development of the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act where we advanced important reforms to combat the abuses within FISA while still allowing it to be used to detect foreign threats, as it was intended. Three of these critical reforms were voted on as amendments to FISA 702, including an amendment to require the FBI to get a warrant before surveilling an American citizen. When this amendment failed, H.R. 7888 no longer forced the reining-in of the federal government’s ability to spy on Americans.”
Hageman explains further that it comes down to what is our Constitution.
“I refuse to support legislation that violates our Constitutional rights.”
The White House joined with some high-ranking Republicans in opposing the warrant requirement over the view that it would jeopardize national security. In a memo, the White House said the amendment from Biggs would “eviscerate the value of Section 702.
Former President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to “KILL FISA” saying that it was used to spy on his campaign. The FBI is accused of using a different part of FISA – Section 701, to spy on a campaign aide using an unverified dossier.
Lawmakers and President Joe Biden have until April 19 to extend Section 702 before it sunsets.
