A massive blaze is seen over the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, on March 22, when several gunmen burst into a large concert hall and fired automatic weapons at a crowd, killing and injuring hundreds. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via AP)
The Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the brutal attack.
Wray told members of the Congressional subcommittee that he would be "hard-pressed" to think of a time when so many threats to public safety and national security were all elevated at once, adding that it was the case as he sat before them.
"This is by no means a time to let up or dial back," he said. "This is a time when we need your support the most. We need all the tools, all the people, and all the resources required to tackle these threats and keep Americans safe."
FBI DIRECTOR WARNS OF ‘ELEVATED' PUBLIC, NATIONAL SAFETY; PUSHES FOR INCREASED FUNDING
The Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan, ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for last month's terrorist attack in Russia. (Israeli Defense Forces)
According to the FBI director, Section 702 is crucial to identifying terrorists in the U.S. who are working with foreign terrorist organizations who publicly call for attacks on the country.
The tool helps the FBI find who the terrorists are working with to allow the FBI to stop them before they kill Americans, Wray said.
He also said Section 702 is crucial as China and Iran target Americans, the latter of which is known for kidnappings and assassinations.
The tool also allows the FBI to fend off cyber threats, as well as threats to electricity, water and medical facilities.
Wray said if Congress allows Section 702 to lapse, which it is set to do next week, it will "massively increase the risk of missing crucial intelligence during a time of heightened national security threats across a whole multiple of fronts."
FBI DIRECTOR SAYS CHINESE HACKERS ARE 'POISED TO ATTACK' AS INFILTRATIONS REACH 'FEVER PITCH'
FBI agent in a jacket brandishing the bureau's insignia. (iStock)
"Now is not the time for us to hang up our gloves, to take away tools we need to punch back. And failing to reauthorize 702 or gutting it with some kind of warrant requirement would be dangerous and put American lives at risk," he said. "I think if FISA were to expire, it adds one more challenge to our ability to secure us from foreign threats, including border-related threats."
"This is not a time for panic; it is a time for heightened vigilance," Wray added.
Among the GOP lawmakers who blocked the bill were: House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good, R-Va.; Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.; Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La.; Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas; and Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., among others.
The fight has put Johnson in a difficult spot between the House Judiciary Committee and its allies, and the U.S. intelligence community and national security hawks in Congress. The former have cast Section 702 as a tool of exploitation and privacy infringement, while the latter have maintained it's a narrowly-focused tool critical to preventing terror attacks.
Section 702 is a provision that allows the federal government to conduct warrant-less surveillance of a foreign national outside the U.S. if they’re suspected of ties to terrorism — even if the person on the other end of the communications is an American citizen.
The House Judiciary Committee backed an amendment that would force U.S. officials to seek a warrant before querying communications made by an American, which national security-minded Republicans have largely opposed.
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One GOP lawmaker compared the amendment's effects to forcing a police officer to seek a warrant before querying a license plate in their database.
They explained that if a suspected terrorist overseas is communicating with a U.S. citizen at home, a Section 702 search would already pick up their specific communications with that U.S. citizen.
The amendment would force authorities to seek a warrant before seeing the contents of that communication, which critics have warned could waste valuable time in the event of a serious threat.
Elizabeth Elkind and Chris Massaro of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
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