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The House of Representatives passed a three-year extension of a controversial surveillance program on Wednesday evening that allows government agencies to monitor foreign communications without a warrant, sparking concerns about privacy risks as the bill moves to the Senate.Several dozen Democrats joined most Republicans in passing the bill in a 235-191 vote. The debate centers on a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, commonly referred to as FISA. The program enables the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI, and other agencies to collect and analyze communications from foreign targets without a warrant. However, lawmakers are concerned that the program also allows the FBI to collect data from Americans who communicate with those foreign targets.The House bill passed Wednesday includes new oversight measures, such as monthly reviews of civil liberties, investigations into program violations, and criminal penalties for officials who knowingly misuse the system. “Two-thirds of the president’s daily national security briefing comes from intelligence collected by that statute,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said. “We cannot allow it to go dark.”Republican Rep. Chip Roy on Tuesday argued in favor of a warrant requirement for the government to search Americans’ data.”The intel community always just comes in and says, ‘People will die if you do this,'” Roy said. “Well, I’m sorry. A lot of Americans died to give us and protect that Fourth Amendment right that we don’t have government looking at our stuff.”Democratic Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin ridiculed the extension, calling it a “three-year blank check.””Under this bill, FBI agents will still collect, search and review Americans’ communications without any review from a judge,” Raskin said. Lawmakers are under pressure to act quickly, as the program’s current authorization expires today, potentially hindering the government’s ability to identify foreign threats.To gain more votes, House leaders added separate legislation banning a central bank digital currency. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that part of the bill is “dead on arrival.” The bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain.Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
The House of Representatives passed a three-year extension of a controversial surveillance program on Wednesday evening that allows government agencies to monitor foreign communications without a warrant, sparking concerns about privacy risks as the bill moves to the Senate.
Several dozen Democrats joined most Republicans in passing the bill in a 235-191 vote.
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The debate centers on a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, commonly referred to as FISA.
The program enables the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI, and other agencies to collect and analyze communications from foreign targets without a warrant.
However, lawmakers are concerned that the program also allows the FBI to collect data from Americans who communicate with those foreign targets.
The House bill passed Wednesday includes new oversight measures, such as monthly reviews of civil liberties, investigations into program violations, and criminal penalties for officials who knowingly misuse the system.
“Two-thirds of the president’s daily national security briefing comes from intelligence collected by that statute,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said. “We cannot allow it to go dark.”
Republican Rep. Chip Roy on Tuesday argued in favor of a warrant requirement for the government to search Americans’ data.
“The intel community always just comes in and says, ‘People will die if you do this,'” Roy said. “Well, I’m sorry. A lot of Americans died to give us and protect that Fourth Amendment right that we don’t have government looking at our stuff.”
Democratic Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin ridiculed the extension, calling it a “three-year blank check.”
“Under this bill, FBI agents will still collect, search and review Americans’ communications without any review from a judge,” Raskin said.
Lawmakers are under pressure to act quickly, as the program’s current authorization expires today, potentially hindering the government’s ability to identify foreign threats.
To gain more votes, House leaders added separate legislation banning a central bank digital currency. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that part of the bill is “dead on arrival.”
The bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain.
Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
