Ft Wayne Times

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) took a stand against the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), citing concerns about the protection of American's constitutional rights.

In a statement following his vote against H.R. 7888, Rep. Baird emphasized the importance of privacy rights for American citizens. He stated, "The American people have an absolute right to privacy for their personal property and data unless a court finds evidence indicating they committed a crime." Baird expressed disappointment in how FISA has been used as a tool for the intelligence community to infringe upon constitutional rights and spy on American citizens.

Baird had hoped for crucial amendments to the legislation that would require intelligence officers to obtain warrants before investigating American citizens, aligning with the standard practice in law enforcement for searching private data.

Critically assessing the final version of the FISA reauthorization bill, Rep. Baird found it lacking in meaningful reforms. He criticized the bill for allowing the federal government to continue surveillance on American citizens without sufficient privacy protections. Baird also pointed out the unethical aspect of certain privacy safeguards for members of Congress that were not extended to all Americans, emphasizing his refusal to support legislation that permits the intelligence community to violate constitutional rights and collect data without consent.

Rep. Baird's stance reflects his commitment to upholding the rights and privacy of American citizens in the face of legislation that he believes undermines these fundamental principles.