NW Atlanta News

Washington, D.C. (April 12, 2024) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk from Georgia's 11th Congressional District made a statement today regarding his vote against H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. The bill passed the House with a vote of 273-147.

Loudermilk emphasized the importance of upholding Americans' right to privacy as guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He stated, "While reauthorizing FISA is an important tool to protect our national security interests, it is crucial to ensure that the federal government stays within their explicitly defined boundaries."

Expressing concern over recent misuse of surveillance powers, Loudermilk highlighted the need for safeguards to protect citizens' rights. He supported an amendment to FISA Section 702 that would have required the FBI to obtain a warrant before infringing on the privacy of Americans. Loudermilk noted, "Since the amendment failed, I believe the reauthorization bill that passed today lacked the safeguards to protect Americans’ privacy rights."

He underscored the importance of requiring warrants for accessing American citizens' data, stating, "If the intelligence community needs to access an American citizen’s data, they must be required to get a warrant, as set forth in federal law."

The vote against the House FISA reauthorization bill by Rep. Loudermilk reflects his dedication to safeguarding the privacy and constitutional rights of American citizens.