SE Valley Times

Representatives Biggs, Jayapal, Armstrong, Hoyle, and Davidson, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, are urging House Leadership for a standalone bill on FISA 702 and privacy votes. The group is advocating for crucial reforms to protect the privacy rights of Americans amidst concerns about backdoor surveillance.

In a joint effort, the representatives are sending a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, emphasizing the need to oppose attaching the reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA to essential legislation. They are also calling for floor votes on reforms to safeguard the privacy of Americans.

Congressman Andy Biggs voiced his concerns about warrantless surveillance, stating, "We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to warrantless surveillance in America." He emphasized the importance of critical reforms to the FISA 702 spying authority to protect Americans' Fourth Amendment rights.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal echoed the sentiments, highlighting the duty of Congress to protect Americans' privacy rights. She emphasized the need to overhaul Section 702 to prevent unwarranted surveillance from intelligence agencies, stating, "Any attempts to extend or expand section 702 will put Americans’ sensitive data at risk."

The bipartisan letter includes cosigners such as Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Rep. Katie Porter, and several other representatives from both parties who are advocating for the protection of civil liberties and reforming FISA 702 to prevent abuses of surveillance powers.

The representatives are urging House Leadership to prioritize the bipartisan efforts to address concerns surrounding FISA 702 and ensure that the privacy rights of Americans are safeguarded.