[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 69 (Friday, April 19, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                  FOURTH AMENDMENT IS NOT FOR SALE ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 2024

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4639, the 
Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act.
  As Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, my 
priority is our national security and to protect Americans from foreign 
threats. Our Intelligence Community agencies at times purchase what is 
known as ``commercially available information'' from data brokerage 
companies to gather information on foreign spies and bad actors, and to 
protect America from malign foreign influence. When they purchase this 
data, they cannot be certain that it is entirely free of any U.S. 
citizen's information. In order to protect citizens, agencies are 
already required to take steps to ensure that this incidentally 
obtained data is removed.
  However, these data brokerage companies collect the personal 
information of Americans through their social media profiles, public 
records, and other commercial sources. They then sell this information 
to companies, organizations, or any entity with an interest in 
collecting data on American citizens--including foreign adversaries 
like China, Russia, or even cartels. H.R. 4639 would do nothing to keep 
any of these other entities from exploiting and sharing American's 
data.
  Instead of prohibiting our own intelligence agencies from accessing 
commercially available information to obtain foreign intelligence, we 
must take steps to address the broader vulnerability of Americans' 
data. Congress needs to take steps to protect Americans, not undermine 
our Intelligence agencies and put the United States at a deep 
disadvantage against our adversaries.

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