U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) applauded a possible change to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reauthorization bill, shrinking the period of reauthorization from five years to two, according to a Thursday release.
After several Republican legislators blocked a plan to reauthorize FISA on Wednesday, it was reported the next day that House leaders are considering a plan that would limit the bill’s authority to two years. Such a plan resembles an amendment originally proposed by Rose.
In the release, Rose said Section 702 of FISA is “badly broken” and “in desperate need of substantial reform” but praised lawmakers’ reported efforts to scale back the reauthorization bill.
Section 702 of FISA allows the government to spy on people outside of the U.S., but Americans communicating with those people could be surveilled in the process.
“Shrinking the reauthorization period from five years to two… will allow for more transparency and accountability of the executive branch and agencies utilizing Section 702 of FISA,” Rose said. “It will also set the stage in two years to allow President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress to finally fix the broken FISA program to restore Americans’ Fourth Amendment right to privacy.”
Only 19 House Republicans, including Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), voted against renewing FISA Wednesday. Every Democrat House lawmaker voted against the FISA reauthorization bill.
Burchett said FISA needed to “die” Wednesday, arguing that the act can be used to spy on Americans.
When explaining why he voted against the bill, Ogles criticized House leadership for not allowing “an open amendment process” after Ogles filed six amendments that were all ignored by House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA-04).
“KILL FISA,” former President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social about the renewal bill. “IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN.”
Former President George W. Bush first implemented FISA in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Congress must reauthorize FISA by April 19, or the act will expire. The vote on the reauthorization bill comes after lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for an end to government surveillance without a warrant.
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Matthew Giffin is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Matthew on X/Twitter.
Photo “Rep John Rose” by Rep John Rose.
Rose has turned out to be just another RINO. Lots of lip service, but he voted for the original FISA extension and is a supporter of the RINO House Speaker.