Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stressed the importance of reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to prevent it from expiring. McConnell emphasized the significance of this section in national security efforts, stating, “For the past sixteen years, federal law enforcement and intelligence professionals have used Section 702...to identify and minimize foreign threats to U.S. national security."

McConnell commended the House for their bipartisan efforts in reforming and reauthorizing the essential authority, highlighting, “Our friends in the House understood the threat." He urged the Senate to follow suit and pass the House's reform bill to avoid the program from going dark.

The Senate Republican Leader debunked misconceptions surrounding the reauthorization bill, stating, “We’ve heard that overdue reforms...amount to a massive new dragnet to surveil innocent U.S. citizens." McConnell emphasized the critical role of Section 702 in preventing national security disasters, citing past successful interventions using this authority.

McConnell warned of the consequences of allowing Section 702 to lapse, emphasizing the need to maintain this defense against potential security threats. He underlined the urgency of the situation by pointing out ongoing security risks posed by various adversaries.

In conclusion, McConnell made a clear call to action, stating, “The Senate must not let Section 702 go dark." He highlighted the Senate's responsibility in ensuring the continuity of this vital national security tool.