Scott Votes Against Reauthorization of FISA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act.

“Today, I voted against the flawed reauthorization of Section 702, the government surveillance program that has a documented track record of abuse. While the bill codifies some reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) it simply does not do enough.

“I respect the work the intelligence community performs in countering international terrorism and keeping Americans safe. With this goal in mind, extraordinary surveillance powers are appropriate in certain circumstances. However, these powers have been extended to things that have nothing to do with national security or combatting terrorism, and therefore they often violate constitutional principles. In fact, an amendment was adopted which expands the circumstances in which FISA searches can be conducted to include drug sales, not just terrorism cases. We do not need extraordinary powers for routine criminal investigations. I was proud to support an amendment that would have instituted a warrant requirement for queries on U.S. citizens; unfortunately this amendment was not adopted and I could not support final passage.

“FISA requires meaningful reforms to guard against abuses and undue expansion. I will continue to argue for Americans’ constitutional right to privacy in Congress.”

# # #