>>8431560 (pb)

House OKs FISA Reforms in Wake of FBI’s Carter Page Fiasco

Four provisions of FISA will expire, or sunset, on Sunday unless Congress reauthorizes them.

The provisions were set to expire three months ago, on Dec. 15, but Congress had extended them.

The roving wiretap provision (Section 206 of the USA Patriot Act of 2001)

The business records provision (Section 215 of the Patriot Act, found at 50 U.S.C. § 1861) permits the government to apply to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to obtain “tangible things” such as documents, records, driver’s licenses, and the like—as long as they are deemed “relevant” to an ongoing investigation into international terrorism or foreign intelligence.

The “call detail record” program grew out of the USA Freedom Act of 2015.

And finally, the lone wolf amendment, found in Section 6001 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (also 50 U.S. § 1801(b)(1)(c)). This amendment applies only to non-U.S. persons and has not been used.

https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/commentary/house-oks-fisa-reforms-wake-fbis-carter-page-fiasco

Gillum to seek treatment, withdraw from public life

Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D) announced Sunday that he would withdraw from public life and seek treatment for alcohol abuse after being discovered intoxicated alongside a man suspected of overdosing on crystal meth in a Miami hotel room.

"After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time. This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse," he said. "I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person," Gillum continued. "I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family. I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future.

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/487712-gillum-to-seek-treatment-for-alcohol-abuse

GOP Senator pushing legislation to reduce pharmaceutical dependency on China: 'We are dependent on them'

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., addressed the reliance that the U.S. currently has on China when it comes to key pharmaceutical ingredients, as medical professionals are hoping to stave off the coronavirus pandemic. Blackburn told "Fox & Friends" Sunday morning that even before the current outbreak, she was pushing legislation to reduce that dependency and increase production in the U.S. "Many of the pharmaceuticals that are necessary for treating some of these viruses," Blackburn said, "they’re made only in China and we are dependent on them for these – they’re called APIs, active pharmaceutical ingredients." Blackburn went on to say that her bill "would incentive bringing that production back on U.S. shores" and "would change some of the legislation around the FDA … that deals with these emerging threats and new technologies and add advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in this."

The Republican senator specified that the bill has a $100 million grant pool for "centers of excellence" to work with pharmaceutical companies, and that she is now also looking into possible tax incentives. Blackburn also addressed legislation currently being worked on by lawmakers to address the economic impact of the coronavirus. “I want to make certain that what we do is targeted, that it is temporary, that’s not picking winners and losers," she said. Blackburn also warned against repeating what she believes were mistakes during the response to the 2008 economic crash which "really slowed down the recovery." "We need to be certain that what we are doing doesn’t get in our own way," she said.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-senator-pushing-legislation-to-reduce-pharmaceutical-dependency-on-china-we-are-dependent-on-them

Bolton defends decision to shutter NSC pandemic office

Former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton defended President Trump’s 2018 decision to shutter the National Security Council’s (NSC) office overseeing responses to pandemics, saying the move did not hinder the government’s response to the coronavirus. “Claims that streamlining NSC structures impaired our nation's bio defense are false. Global health remained a top NSC priority, and its expert team was critical to effectively handling the 2018-19 Africa Ebola crisis. The angry Left just can't stop attacking, even in a crisis,” Bolton tweeted Saturday morning.

T

The remark from Bolton comes a day after Trump was pressed on his decision to disband the pandemic response team on the NSC in 2018. While responsibility for monitoring threats from infectious diseases was shifted to another group within the NSC, the move was reportedly interpreted as a downgrading of the administration’s priority for global health security. “Well, I just think it’s a nasty question,” Trump fired back when asked about the closure. “I don’t know anything about it. I mean, you say we did that. I don’t know anything about it. Disbanding, no, I don’t know anything about it.”

The Trump administration has faced a wave of criticism over its handling of the coronavirus, with Democrats saying the White House’s halting rollout of testing kits exacerbated the spread of the virus. More than 2,000 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in the U.S., and at least 49 patients have died, according to The New York Times’s tally.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/487581-bolton-defends-decision-to-shutter-nsc-pandemic-office

>>8432214

NOTABLE

Mitch McConnell's priorities for the Senate this week.

>>8431945

Prayers Anon daily, for Continued faith, health, patience and healing during these difficult times.