Us Congress House Bill HR577

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 7/11/23
• Refer: 7/11/23

Caption

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that authorities under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 should be allowed to expire.

Impact

If adopted, the resolution would signal a significant shift in how surveillance powers are exercised in the United States, aiming to enhance the protection of citizens' privacy rights. The bill discusses previous abuses related to the use of section 702, including instances where the FBI conducted queries without sufficient justification, raising alarms about violations of American citizens' rights. Its passage would reaffirm the importance of requiring judicial oversight before intrusions on personal privacy can occur, potentially leading to revisions in how future surveillance laws are structured.

Summary

House Resolution 577 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the expiration of authorities under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978. The resolution advocates that these authorities should not be renewed when they expire at the end of the year, highlighting concerns over the lack of transparency and oversight in how these surveillance powers have been used by intelligence agencies, particularly the FBI. It underscores the argument that the existing methods of surveillance, which require warrants, provide better protection for American civil liberties compared to the more permissive section 702 authorities.

Contention

Notably, the resolution also draws attention to the ongoing debate between national security needs and civil liberties. Proponents argue that section 702 has been misused and lacks adequate checks and balances, while opponents may contend that eliminating these authorities could hinder national security efforts by limiting intelligence-gathering capabilities. Various civil liberties organizations express consistent concerns over such surveillance practices, calling for reforms that favor stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent future infractions.