Hi, I don't know how much attention this package gets, but i still use it
The repository at https://salsa.debian.org/rpil2/checksecurity/ includes a 'modernised' 3-line debian/rules (plus other things) that would, i think, fix this bug. That repository includes all the history that git-buildpackage could import, and makes various other changes - i really wanted to fix https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=994707 but . I ended up doing more, including rewriting the main perl script in bash and fixing some other inconsistencies and logfile locations - so you might not want all of what is in there, but perhaps it is helpful. If there is another/better way to help keep this package in Debian do let me know - as ever, i find myself not really sure how to help.