Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, which would reauthorize FISA 702. We live in a dangerous world, and section 702 is crucial to keeping Americans safe. This is a tool that our intelligence agencies rely upon all day to counter all kinds of threats to our homeland from U.S. nonpersons. Again, U.S. nonpersons. Whether uncovering Chinese spies or foiling terrorist plots or intercepting cyberattacks, this authority is essential to our national security. This tool can even allow our intelligence community to counter drug cartels as they attempt to bring deadly fentanyl to our shores, but it would be enhanced by an amendment that Mr. Crenshaw and I are proposing, the Enhancing Intelligence Collection on Foreign Drug Traffickers Act. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment when we vote later this morning. However, not all of the amendments today would strengthen this bill. In fact, I am strongly opposed to the amendment offered by Mr. Biggs, and I am obligated to point out the dangers of passing this extreme amendment. Intelligence professionals who rely on this tool, 702, keep us safe and have been crystal clear. This amendment would make it nearly impossible to access information essential to protect our homeland security. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the overall bill to reauthorize FISA, and a ``no'' vote on the Biggs amendment.”