Goodlatte Statement on Reauthorization of Section 702 with Reforms

Washington, D.C. -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today issued this statement following the President signing into law a reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a critical national security tool. Chairman Goodlatte:  “I am pleased the President has signed into law the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act, which represents a good step at reforming one our nation’s most indispensable national security tools. While this legislation is not perfect, the bill requires, for the first time, a warrant to access 702-collected communications of U.S. persons in criminal investigations.  The bill also prohibits the government from using 702-acquired communications against a U.S. citizen in court regarding routine crimes unless the government gets a warrant before accessing the contents of the communications. I am pleased that the House Judiciary Committee, with primary oversight of FISA, was able to successfully push to ensure reauthorization of this critical program which keeps our nation safe while also securing basic civil liberties we hold as Americans.” ###