DURBIN: CONGRESS SHOULD REAUTHORIZE FISA SECTION 702 WITH REFORMS & PUT AN END TO THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL SURVEILLANCE OF AMERICANS

WASHINGTON, June 16 -- Sen. Dick Durbin issued the following press release:

In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, continued his calls for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Section 702 allows the government to collect the private communications of foreigners overseas without a warrant. The problem is that millions, and potentially billions, of innocent Americans' communications with friends, family members, or co-workers abroad are swept up in this collection. Once collected, the government can read Americans' private text messages and emails-and even listen to phone calls-without ever having to obta...