The House Rules Committee has approved a vote on a revised version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reauthorization, responding to earlier Republican objections, as reported by The Hill.
Late Thursday, the committee endorsed the updated measure after Republicans blocked a previous iteration. This new bill focuses on renewing Section 702 of FISA, allowing surveillance of foreign targets abroad, which may incidentally gather data from American citizens.
The committee’s 8-4 vote established debate guidelines for the bill, scheduled for a House vote on Friday. Various amendments are also on the docket, including one requiring warrants for accessing Americans’ data.
Thursday’s emergency session followed a failed procedural vote on Wednesday, prompting revisions to the legislation. Negotiations aimed to address concerns from dissenting Republicans, resulting in a condensed two-year reauthorization instead of the initially proposed five years.
Republican backing relies on concessions from party leadership, including a commitment to vote on a bill mandating warrants for data acquisition involving U.S. citizens. While some GOP members tentatively support the bill, others remain undecided or cautiously in favor.
House Democrats are unlikely to assist Republican efforts, making near-unanimous GOP support crucial for the bill’s passage. With a slim margin for error, Republicans can afford to lose only two votes if all members are present.
Critics argue that the revised bill lacks significant reforms to protect Americans’ privacy, echoing concerns that previously derailed the legislation. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., highlighted the irony of conservative support for a bill they had previously opposed.
“Last night, they were praised for stopping FISA, and now it’s essentially the same thing today. And all 19 are going to vote for it,” he remarked.
Moreover, the revised two-year timeline postpones resolution to the next presidential term, despite both Trump and Biden previously endorsing FISA reauthorization. Trump’s contradictory stance on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to “kill FISA,” further complicates the situation.
The bill’s progression underscores the ongoing debate over surveillance practices and privacy rights, with stakeholders grappling to balance national security imperatives with civil liberties concerns.
