US House approves controversial domestic surveillance bill

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US House of Representatives on Friday approved a bill to reauthorize federal spying powers on foreign targets for another two years.

Prior to passage of the bill reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in a 273-147 vote, the House failed to adopt a bipartisan amendment to require a warrant before spying on Americans, with an evenly split vote, 212-212.

FISA, first passed in 1978, sets out procedures for physical and electronic surveillance and the collection of foreign intelligence information. It has been amended several times since then, including after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Section 702, which is set to expire on April 19, allows the US government to collect electronic communications of non-Americans located outside the country without a warrant.

However, it sometimes results in the collection of data on Americans who are in contact with those surveilled individuals, making it controversial.

“Obviously we strongly support the bipartisan effort to get 702 reauthorized,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday. "It is vital to our ability to defend ourselves, defend … the American people, and we very much want to see it get extended and move forward."

The passage showed House Republicans in a rare break from President Donald Trump, who urged them to "kill FISA."

To become law, the bill must first also pass the Senate and be signed by President Joe Biden.