House Judiciary Committee Advances FISA Reform Bill in Show of Bipartisanship

Bipartisanship is a rare occurrence among members of the House Judiciary Committee, but on Nov. 6, it was widespread. The committee voted 35–2 to advance a bill that would amend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to prohibit warrantless queries for the communications of U.S. citizens and those located within the country—save for in emergency situations. Dubbed the “Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act,” the bill would also limit the number of FBI personnel who can search the controversial surveillance database that Section 702 authorizes, among other reforms. Under Section 702, U.S. officials are authorized to surveil the communications non-citizens located outside of the United States without a warrant. But reports of FBI employees abusing the associated database to conduct unauthorized queries of U.S. citizens have been numerous in recent years, sparking outrage and calls for reform....