House Passes FISA Amendments Act

I must say, I'm impressed. Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives continues to stare Bush in the eye without blinking. Well, on this issue at least. No retroactive immunity for the telecoms. Of course, Bush threatens to veto. Keep it up, Congress!

[Excerpt]



House Passes FISA Amendments Act

The House has just passed the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3773, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes, by a vote of 213-197-1. The revised House legislation to amend FISA grants new authorities for conducting electronic surveillance against foreign targets while preserving the requirement that the government obtain an individualized FISA court order, based on probable cause, when targeting Americans at home or abroad. The House bill also strongly enhances oversight of the Administration’s surveillance activities. Finally, the House bill does not provide retroactive immunity for telecom companies but allows the courts to determine whether lawsuits should proceed. . .

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