Advocates Seek FISA Amendments for Thursday House Vote

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is expected to back legislation that would maintain the status quo for the intelligence community’s surveillance authorities, civil liberties advocates said Tuesday (see 2404050049). The House is expected to vote Thursday on the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, which would reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the controversial Section 702. The House Rules Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday about the legislation and what provisions to consider on the floor. Johnson supports the House Intelligence Committee’s approach, which omits the House Judiciary Committee’s warrant requirement, New America Open Technology Institute Policy Director Prem Trivedi said in a statement Tuesday. Privacy advocates seek a warrant requirement when intelligence agencies search for American citizens' data in the FISA database. In addition, they want a warrant requirement when agencies purchase U.S. citizens’ information through data brokers. Johnson is backtracking on proposals he supported as a rank-and-file member, Demand Progress said. The House Intelligence Committee wants an expansion of FISA authorities and to subject additional network-connected businesses to gag orders that facilitate warrantless FISA surveillance, said Policy Director Sean Vitka. Johnson’s office didn’t comment Tuesday. House Republican leadership previously abandoned a proposal to consider FISA provisions from both committees on the floor (see 2312120073).