Thune on Democrats Holding FISA Hostage

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “We have a saying around here that, if you don’t get national security right, the rest is just conversation. “And that’s certainly true with respect to some of the issues that we have in front of us right now. “The FISA legislation, which is pending here in the United States Senate, is critical to keeping this country safe and secure for Americans. “And just to put a fine point on that, if you look at how effective FISA has been, it has stopped numerous terrorist attacks. “It has been used in 90 percent of the CIA’s synthetic drug disruptions. “So, in other words, these drug busts that you keep reading about, a lot of that originates with information derived from the 702 process. “So, it’s very, very concerning when you have the Democrats here in the United States Senate essentially saying that, ‘We are not interested in reauthorizing this program,’ which will go dark at midnight on Friday if we don’t take action. “And it would be alarming under any circumstance, but it’s especially alarming now, given the fact that we are heading into a time where the U.S. starts hosting the World Cup, for example. “We’ve got all kinds of 250th anniversary celebrations coming up here in the not-too-distant future. “And you’ve got a program that has a proven record when it comes to keeping this country safe that is at risk because Democrats here in the United States Senate have decided to block vote against it. “That is a very dangerous proposition. “It puts Americans at risk. “And it started with the air traffic control, and then it was border security, the Department of Homeland Security – you go right down the list of all these agencies the Democrats have decided not to fund. “They truly are the party of open borders, defund the police, sanctuary cities, and unfortunately right now, defunding the 702 program, which is essential to America’s national security interests. “So, Republicans are going to do everything we can to keep this program on track, but obviously … we’re going to need some help from Democrats in order to get it across the finish line. “And I certainly hope that they put the nation’s national security interests ahead of their Trump Derangement Syndrome, which seems to be what’s driving the decisions that they’re making here on a daily basis.”