[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 68 (Friday, April 17, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1829-S1830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMENDING THE FISA AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2008 TO EXTEND THE AUTHORITIES OF
TITLE VII OF THE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT OF 1978 THROUGH
APRIL 30, 2026
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to immediate consideration of H.R. 8322, which was received
from the House.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 8322) to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008
to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through April 30, 2026,
and for other purposes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection to proceeding to the
measure?
Mr. WYDEN. Reserving the right to object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, Americans understand that every single
day there are abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. And
the reality is, a growing number of Democrats and Republicans are now
saying that a straight extension of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act law is absolutely unacceptable in any way, shape, or
form.
So it is clear it is time for real reforms to protect Americans from
warrantless surveillance by a government that they rightly do not
trust.
[[Page S1830]]
So for the last hour or so, I have been speaking to colleagues in the
other body of the House. And they have told me, unequivocally, that
this short-term extension makes reform more likely and expiration makes
reform less likely.
But make no mistake about it, opponents of reform have shown no
willingness, for years and years, to negotiate meaningful reform. And
those of us in a bipartisan, bicameral way who have insisted that this
time will be different want to emphasize that this morning.
The reality is that the country believes that security and liberty
are not mutually exclusive. We can have both. A good bill that we are
insisting on will do that. A bad bill will give us less security and
less liberty.
So I hope that opponents of reform are going to understand what is
going on in the Congress and in the country and start talking about
what is genuinely good reform and what it would look like.
I will say that I am now the longest serving member of the Senate
Intelligence Committee, and I have never seen the concern on both sides
of the aisle, that is bicameral, for real reform.
So I have talked to my colleagues in the House, and their views have
been particularly important because they have told us about their work
last night and what it means for real reform.
And we are going to be following that here every single day because
Ben Franklin said--you are going to hear me talk about that--anybody
who gives up their liberty for security doesn't deserve either.
We are going to insist on it.
I yield the floor.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a
third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill was ordered to a third reading and was read the third time.
Mr. THUNE. I know of no further debate on the bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the
question is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (H.R. 8322) was passed.
Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be
considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________