FreedomWorks Demands Votes on FISA Amendments
Washington, D.C. – In response to the news that there will be an all-House briefing on FISA next week, Adam Brandon, FreedomWorks president, commented:
“Members of Congress don’t need another private, classified briefing from the alphabet soup of the Intelligence Community. Not only is this briefing unnecessary, it’s clearly designed to influence Members ahead of the debate on Section 702 of FISA.”
“Let me explain. The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) was introduced after months of negotiations between the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). Although the two groups couldn’t agree on consensus legislation, they agreed to bring the RISAA to the floor with both having the opportunity to offer three amendments. House Judiciary amendments would protect Americans from warrantless searches and third-party data brokers. We are concerned the Intelligence Community will attempt to influence the outcome of amendment votes.”
“Despite supporting similar surveillance reforms in the past, Speaker Mike Johnson has rolled over for the Intelligence Community. Over three-quarters of Americans recently polled support closing the backdoor loophole for warrantless searches and closing the data broker loophole to prevent the government from purchasing our sensitive information from third-party data brokers. Congressional leadership, including Speaker Johnson, are wildly out of touch with what Americans want.”
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FreedomWorks exists to mobilize the principled center and politically homeless in America who do not feel their values of fiscal responsibility, social tolerance, and individual liberty are being represented in political discourse today. We seek to restore common sense and competence to public policy and American political life.
