Congress is now one step closer to extending the life of a key federal surveillance tool known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
A bill to reauthorize Section 702 of FISA passed the House Rules Committee on Tuesday night, the last hurdle before the bill is considered by the House. It passed by a vote of 9-2.
Section 702 allows the federal government to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreign nationals outside the United States if they are suspected of having ties to terrorism, even if the person communicating is a U.S. citizen.
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Battle over FISA Section 702 update rages on Capitol Hill, deadline is April 19th (Getty)
National security hawks and members of the intelligence community say this is a key tool to prevent another 9/11-style attack. But critics, including both conservatives and progressives, are seeking to limit its scope after reports of abuses to collect data on Americans.
The fight over renewing Section 702 is one of the most intense battles House Republicans have ever had to fight, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) also grappling with a razor-thin majority. are doing. The current process marks the third attempt by House Republican leaders to update the tool before the April 19 deadline.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson considers this thorny issue and razor-thin majority
The Intelligence Reform and Securing America Act, a compromise between the House Judiciary Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, provides safeguards for access to data collected under Section 702, particularly when it involves U.S. citizens. The purpose of this measure is to curb cases of abuse. .
Under terms agreed to by the Rules Committee, the House will vote on an amendment supported by the Judiciary Committee that would ban warrantless searches of U.S. citizens before voting on the final bill.
“If this bill passes, it will effectively result in 702 deaths,” a Republican lawmaker who opposes the amendment told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night.
The final bill did not include amendments sought by privacy hawks led by Rep. Walan Davidson (R-Ohio). The proposed amendment would require the federal government to request a warrant before purchasing data on Americans from third-party brokers.
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Conservatives tried to include an amendment by Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) in the final bill, but it was ultimately not included. ((Photo by Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images))
Opponents of this provision, primarily on the House Intelligence Committee, complained that it was unrelated to Section 702 and would hinder its chances of passage in the Senate.
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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) told Fox News Digital earlier Tuesday that Davidson’s amendment would later be voted on as a standalone bill.
The House is scheduled to vote on the Section 702 renewal bill on Thursday, according to Fox News Digital. Administration officials are scheduled to visit the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday for an all-member House briefing on FISA.
FOX News’ Tyler Olson contributed to this report
