01.16.18

Senate to Vote on Critical Foreign Surveillance Legislation

‘Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote to advance the reauthorization of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This includes Section 702, one of the most important tools that our warfighters and intelligence professionals use to wage the war on terror and keep Americans safe. It allows the United States to collect communications from foreign terrorists who wish harm on America and our allies.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding Senate consideration of the House-passed Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

“Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote to advance the reauthorization of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This includes Section 702, one of the most important tools that our warfighters and intelligence professionals use to wage the war on terror and keep Americans safe. It allows the United States to collect communications from foreign terrorists who wish harm on America and our allies.

“To be clear, it does not permit the targeting of American citizens anywhere in the world. Let me repeat that: Section 702 does not allow the targeting of American citizens. Nor does it permit the targeting of anyone – of any nationality – who is known to be located here in the U.S. But with respect to foreigners on foreign soil, 702 gives the men and women who keep us safe a vital tool they need to fulfill their missions.

“Five years ago, Congress reauthorized the title with overwhelming bipartisan support. It is imperative that we do so again. The world remains dangerous. Al-Qaeda, ISIL, and associated terror groups are still intent on harming our people and those working with us overseas.

“Yet with each day that passes since this nation was attacked on September 11th, 2001, it seems that concern over terrorism has waned. This is in part due to the success of our defense and intelligence community in preventing another major attack. They rely upon Section 702 to accomplish that mission. I look forward to renewing the bipartisan consensus on this issue and reauthorizing this important provision as the Senate votes this week.”

Related Issues: Homeland Security