[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  FISA

  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, the Senate had three priorities for this 
week: reauthorizing the expiring provisions of the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act, passing the second phase of our coronavirus response, 
and initiating a serious discussion about what else we need to do to 
help Americans address this challenge. I have to say I am glad we have 
already made progress on all three fronts.
  On Sunday, several key provisions of the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act expired, including the provision that allows the FBI 
to wiretap lone-wolf terrorists--terrorists not affiliated with a 
specific terrorist organization--and the roving wiretap provision that 
prevents the FBI from having to seek a new wiretap warrant each time a 
terrorist suspect changes his phone number.
  Every minute of every day, the men and women of our law enforcement 
and intelligence communities are working to track terrorist threats and 
prevent attacks on American citizens. We need to ensure that they have 
all the tools they need to do their jobs.
  The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act provisions that expired 
Sunday are key weapons in the fight to keep Americans safe. I am 
pleased we were able to pass a 77-day extension yesterday and set up a 
process for consideration of a long-term extension.
  I strongly support the bipartisan House bill, which combines 
extensions of these key anti-terrorism tools with new accountability 
measures that will ensure that law enforcement is held to the highest 
standards when pursuing surveillance of suspected terrorists and 
foreign agents. Attorney General Barr has also endorsed the House bill. 
I look forward to taking up this legislation and debating several 
issues raised by my colleagues before we are on the brink of another 
expiration.

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