Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, the Crenshaw amendment would expand FISA's definition of foreign intelligence to encompass international drug crimes. FISA is a counterintelligence and counterterrorism tool. It is limited to that purpose. The clear distinction between foreign intelligence and crime are essential to preserving the fundamental liberties of Americans under our constitutional system. {time} 1130 It is the essential design of the law: spying abroad, criminal justice at home. Simply redefining foreign intelligence to include ordinary crime eviscerates the entire distinction on which the design of the FISA law rests. Moreover, the Intelligence Committee proponents of this amendment fail even to explain to us why this blurred definition is needed. They assert it, but they don't explain it. After all, the DNI's FISA section 702 fact sheet lists the government's use of section 702 to learn about our adversaries' plans to smuggle fentanyl into the United States as the number one successful use of existing section 702. If section 702 already allows us to go after fentanyl, then why do we need to change and blur the critical definition of foreign intelligence? What is the purpose of doing so? What comes next? Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has the only time remaining.”