Barry Moore opposed reauthorization of FISA

On Friday, an overwhelming bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives voted 273 to 147 to reauthorize the nation's warrantless surveillance powers, FISA, for two more years. Congressman Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) voted against the bill after the House ers narrowly rejected an amendment that would require authorities to get a warrant for some searches.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) would have expired on April 19 without congressional action.

Rep. Moore released a statement after opposing the two-year reauthorization of Section 702 with no reforms. Moore claims that FISA has been used to unlawfully search and surveil Americans' data. Moore has been vocal in his opposition to a reauthorization of FISA without a warrant requirement.

"This legislation is called the 'Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,' but it has been used hundreds of thousands of times to violate Americans' Fourth Amendment rights and spy on them without a warrant," said Moore. "I refuse to support legislation that allows the intelligence community, who has recently spent its resources weaponizing against pro-life grandmothers, concerned parents at school board meetings, Catholics, and Biden's political opponents, to freely spy on American citizens."

The White House stressed on Friday that reauthorizing the United States's warrantless surveillance authority is critical to U.S. national security.

Moore supported a controversial amendment, sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona), that would have required intelligence agencies to get a warrant. That amendment was voted down 212 to 212.

The intelligence community and the Whitehouse strongly opposed the Biggs amendment.

"Obviously we strongly support the bipartisan effort to get 702 reauthorized," said White House National Security adviser John Kirby on Friday. "It is vital to our ability to defend ourselves, defend ... the American people, and we very much want to see it move forward - get extended and move forward."

Section 702 of FISA was not intended to allow surveillance of Americans, but foreign actors. The catch to that is if the government is monitoring the electronic communications of foreign actors, caught up in the surveillance web are any Americans that that foreign suspect is in contact with – all without having to get a warrant.

Kirby said that Section 702 contributed to the successful U.S. strike that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The House has to address a motion to reconsider that is unresolved before the legislation can go to the Senate. The Iranian attacks on Israel this weekend increases pressure on legislators to act.

Barry Moore has served two terms representing Alabama's Second Congressional District 2. In September a federal court redistricted CD2 and CD1, including moving Moore to the First Congressional District. Last month Moore defeated First District incumbent Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) in the Republican party primary.

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