Durbin, Lee Introduce Bipartisan SAFE Act to Reform FISA Section 702

Press Release

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“There is little doubt that Section 702 is a valuable national security tool. However, while only foreigners overseas may be targeted, the program sweeps in massive amounts of Americans’ communications, which may be searched without a warrant. Even after implementing compliance measures, the FBI still conducted more than 200,000 warrantless searches of Americans’ communications in just one year—more than 500 warrantless searches per day. Our bipartisan legislation—the SAFE Act—is a sensible, bipartisan path forward on reauthorizing Section 702 with meaningful reforms.

The documented abuses under FISA should provoke outrage from anyone who values the Fourth Amendment Rights of American citizens,” said Lee. “From warrantless searches targeting journalists, political commentators, and campaign donors to monitoring sitting members of Congress, these actions reveal a blatant disregard for individual liberties. Upholding the Fourth Amendment isn’t optional—it’s a duty. Our proposed reforms to FISA Section 702 are common sense and imperative to restoring trust in our government’s commitment to upholding Americans’ rights under the Constitution.”

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