The House recently passed a modified surveillance bill to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, just two days after a previous version failed to advance. This bill needs to pass the Senate before an April 19 deadline. The passage of this legislation is seen as a win for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced challenges to his leadership. In the days leading up to the vote, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a resolution that could lead to a vote to remove Johnson from the speakership.
The final vote on the bill was 273-147, with Republicans and Democrats divided on their support. The new version of the bill is a two-year reauthorization instead of five years, which would allow for potential changes if former President Donald Trump were to win the next presidential election. Johnson organized a classified reading room for members to review information before the vote. He also met with Trump in Florida after the bill’s passage.
Johnson had previously been opposed to reauthorizing a section of FISA, but after receiving classified briefings, he gained a different perspective and ultimately supported the reauthorization. The White House expressed support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of reauthorizing key surveillance authorities. The bill’s passage is critical for national security efforts, and has been cited in successful intelligence operations, such as disrupting a shipment of fentanyl precursor chemicals.
The most contentious aspect of the bill’s passage was a bipartisan amendment that would have required the FBI to obtain a search warrant before accessing foreign intelligence data involving US citizens. The Biden administration and Republican national security hawks campaigned against this amendment, arguing that it would undermine critical surveillance authorities. The amendment ultimately failed by a one-vote margin, with 86 Republicans voting against it.
There were internal divisions within the Republican Party regarding the amendment’s failure, with conservative hardliners blaming Speaker Johnson for its defeat. Both Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized Johnson for his role in the amendment’s outcome. Greene specifically compared Johnson to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, suggesting that his actions were not in line with conservative values. The story and headline have been updated with additional developments, as reported by CNN.
In summary, the passage of the modified surveillance bill reauthorizing the FISA is a significant development in national security efforts. The bill’s passage reflects internal divisions within the Republican Party and challenges to Speaker Johnson’s leadership. The failed amendment requiring search warrants for accessing foreign intelligence data involving US citizens was a point of contention, with the Biden administration and Republican national security hawks strongly opposing it. The outcome of this amendment vote has sparked further criticism of Speaker Johnson and raised questions about his leadership. Ultimately, the bill’s passage is a crucial step in maintaining surveillance authorities and ensuring national security efforts.
