Providing for Consideration of H.R. Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act; Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Denouncing the Biden Administration's Immigration Policies; and Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Opposing Efforts to Place One-Sided Pressure on Israel with Respect to Gaza
Floor Speech
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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me time.
I am here to remind myself and everybody that we each took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and within the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is the Fourth Amendment.
I will read a portion of that for all of you: ``The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated. . . . `'
It doesn't say: Well, if we have got an important matter, we can violate it; if it is too difficult, if it takes too long, Mr. Speaker, we can violate it. It doesn't say that. It says it ``shall not be violated.''
Now, we are here to debate the rule today on this, and I will tell you I have concerns about the rule because we worked to make sure that amendments would be in order so that we could vote for them on the floor.
I have concerns about the rule. Assuming this rule passes and this bill comes to the floor, Mr. Speaker, the FBI and the intelligence agencies--just the last time there was a report out--spied on Americans illegally 278,000 times. It sure is long past time that we do something about it. It is sure long past time.
I will tell you, the fact that they are quibbling and fighting about having a warrant requirement, that they are fighting over protecting the data that they are purchasing, not just on me, Mr. Speaker, not just on you, the people in the gallery, the people that are watching on TV. Every single American, these intelligence agencies, without a warrant, are collecting your information for which they each took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution which says they can't do it.
Mr. Speaker, this reauthorization is not reformed. It is not currently reformed. It might be reformed depending upon the amendments available, but we already know that the one that protects your data from being bought by the FBI is not going to be allowed.
Somebody has to stand up for the Constitution and the rights of the American people, and if I can't do anything else here in this House of Representatives, you can count on me for standing up for that.
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