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Intel Ranking Member Schiff Statement on Draft 702 Legislation

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement:

 "Section 702 is a vital intelligence tool, and it is imperative that Congress reform and renew it before the authority's expiration in December. In doing so, our objective should be the same as it was during debate over the reauthorization of the phone metadata program: to provide greater transparency to the public and to address privacy and civil liberties concerns, while preserving the vital without national security capabilities of the program. 

 "The bill introduced today by Rep. Goodlatte and Rep. Conyers is a thoughtful first effort, and I will be studying it in greater detail in the days to come. There is much I support in the legislation, including reforms to the FISA Court and additional protections for Americans whose communications may be incidentally collected. However, I have concerns about the operational impacts of some elements of the proposal on counter terrorism efforts, and also believe there are additional privacy and transparency provisions and protections that should be added. I look forward to working with my colleagues to address these issues and move the process forward."