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Senate floor leaders request swift declassification review of FISC opinion as Section 702 talks continue
Summary
Senators on the floor said a declassification review of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinion and order is being finalized and expect the review to finish within 15 days as lawmakers seek more time to negotiate reauthorization and reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Mr. Wyden, a senator who said he serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told colleagues on the Senate floor that a declassification review of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinion and an accompanying order dated March 17 is under way and "will be completed and the FISC opinion released publicly within 15 days."
The remarks came as senators discussed reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and possible reforms. The presiding officer asked if there was any objection to proceeding to the measure; after none was voiced, the Senate proceeded without objection.
"My understanding is that both the chair of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Cotton, and the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Warner, have agreed to this letter," said Mr. Thune, identified on the floor as the majority leader. Thune said the letter reflects the senator from Oregon's request and that allowing additional time could help the House and Senate reach agreement on reauthorizing the FISA program.
Mr. Wyden said the debate on surveillance law is entering "a very new period," noting that developments in artificial intelligence are changing capabilities and "require new rules." He repeated that the letter from the Intelligence Committee leadership is being sent to the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General and said the committee is working to finalize signatures.
The floor preview earlier listed other items expected for the day's business, including votes to advance nominees en bloc and reference to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. The comments on the FISC opinion and Section 702 reauthorization were the most substantial discussion recorded in the provided transcript.
Next steps described on the floor were the transmission of the signed letter to intelligence community leadership and additional time for congressional consideration of Section 702 and related reforms.
