Peoria Standard

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), has voiced his support for the reauthorization and reform of FISA Section 702 with the introduction of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA). LaHood, who played a key role in crafting the bill, emphasized the importance of balancing national security with civil liberties.

"We face the greatest terrorist threat since 9/11. The most important tool our Intelligence Community has to keep Americans safe from those threats is Section 702 of FISA, but it must be reformed to protect American civil liberties from abuses," stated Congressman LaHood, highlighting the need for reforms to safeguard individual rights while ensuring national security.

Speaking on the potential risks of allowing Section 702 to expire, LaHood expressed concerns about threats posed by countries like Iran, Russia, and the CCP. He underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, "allowing Section 702 of FISA to expire or be gutted would put our country at grave risk."

The RISAA bill, which LaHood helped author, aims to overhaul the FBI and prevent past abuses. LaHood emphasized, "The RISAA takes the necessary steps to overhaul the FBI, prevent the abuses committed against President Trump's campaign from happening again, protect American civil liberties, and bring needed transparency to the FISA Court, while also allowing our intelligence services to continue to hunt down terrorists and bad actors."

The bill includes significant reforms such as reducing the number of U.S. person queries, creating criminal liability for misconduct related to FISA, and requiring independent audits of FBI queries. It also addresses abuses in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation and against the Trump campaign by imposing enhanced penalties and prohibiting the use of political opposition research for FISA orders.

Furthermore, the RISAA brings greater transparency to the FISA court by mandating transcripts for deliberations, assigning counsel to scrutinize surveillance applications, and ensuring continuity in judge assignments for surveillance extensions.

Congressman LaHood concluded by expressing his commitment to oversight and ensuring the safety of Americans through continued work on the Intelligence Committee.