WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer’s provision that allows the U.S. government to more effectively use Section 702 to disrupt international narcotics trafficking operations passed the House of Representatives, as part of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act.
The bill, which passed by a vote of 273-147 on Friday, reauthorizes a program known as Section 702. Section 702 allows the intelligence community to collect information on foreign nationals, including those who pose a national security threat to the United States like terrorists, hackers, and cartel leaders.
This reauthorization includes the most extensive reforms ever made to Section 702, ensuring federal law enforcement is held accountable if they misuse the program or target American civilians.
“The United States faces countless foreign security threats — China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and more — and the Section 702 program is key to keeping our country safe,” said Gottheimer, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “I was proud that, as part of this reauthorization, the House also passed a bipartisan amendment that I helped lead, which will allow us to leverage Section 702 against foreign drug trafficking. We need to use every intelligence tool available to better track, trace, and stop international drug trafficking networks.”
Gottheimer’s bipartisan amendment was cosponsored by Reps. Auchincloss (MA-4), Crawford (AR-1), Crenshaw (TX-2), Ellzey (TX-6), Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Golden (ME-2), Gonzalez (TX-34), Houlahan (PA-6), McCaul (TX-10), Turner (OH-10), Trone (MD-6), and Waltz (FL6).
