WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Derrick Van Orden, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):
“Protecting the American people is my highest priority. Section 702 is a critical intelligence tool that helps our nation detect and disrupt terrorist threats, cyberattacks, and foreign adversaries targeting the United States.
The extension also includes 64 significant revisions to strengthen oversight and prevent abuse. These reforms include a specific requirement that the FBI obtain a warrant before using Section 702 authorities to query U.S. citizens, as well as new criminal penalties for federal agents who intentionally violate the rules governing access and use of the system.
Together, these changes are designed to tighten accountability, reinforce constitutional protections, and ensure the tool remains focused on foreign intelligence threats while adding clearer guardrails for any domestic-related queries. We cannot afford to weaken our ability to keep Americans safe in an increasingly dangerous world. I supported this extension because failing to do so would have put national security at risk.”
