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To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to clarify and improve the procedures and accountability for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, to extend title VII of such Act, to ensure that the barriers to sharing critical foreign intelligence among the intelligence community that existed before September 11, 2001, are not reimposed, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-3989| House 
| Updated: 11/8/2017
Bob Goodlatte

Bob Goodlatte

Republican Representative

Virginia

Cosponsors (13)
Lamar Smith (Republican)Steve Chabot (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)F. James Sensenbrenner (Republican)Mike Johnson (Republican)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Doug Collins (Republican)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)John Conyers (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)
Committees (6)
• Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee• Homeland Security Committee• Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Uniting and Strengthening American Liberty Act of 2017 or the USA Liberty Act of 2017 This bill amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to allow the contents of communications by persons outside of the United States to be accessed if the Department of Justice (DOJ) determines there is probable cause to believe that those contents may provide evidence of a crime. Noncontent communication information may be accessed only if DOJ determines that the noncontent information is relevant to an authorized investigation or assessment. DOJ must establish specific procedures when unmasking information is requested. (Unmasking means providing the identity of a U.S. person mentioned in an intelligence report that contains a reference to the person but does not identify the person.) The National Security Act of 1947 is amended to prevent federal employees from taking any personnel action against a contractor employee who has made a lawful disclosure of information that the contractor employee believes provides evidence of a violation of federal law or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. The bill extends to September 30, 2023, the authorization of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows DOJ and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to jointly authorize the electronic surveillance of non-U.S. persons who are outside the United States. The bill increases the criminal penalty (from one to up to five years imprisonment) for knowingly removing classified information without authority and with intent to retain such information at an unauthorized location and imposes a criminal penalty of up to one year imprisonment for negligently removing such information. The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study the unauthorized disclosure of classified information and the U.S. classification system.
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Timeline
Oct 6, 2017
Introduced in House
Oct 6, 2017
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 16, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Oct 20, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Nov 8, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.
Nov 8, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 16, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-2158
Introduced in Senate
  • October 6, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • October 6, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • October 16, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.


  • October 20, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.


  • November 8, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.


  • November 8, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 16, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-2158
    Introduced in Senate

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • S 115-2158: A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to clarify and improve the procedures and accountability for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, to extend title VII of such Act, to ensure that the barriers to sharing critical foreign intelligence among the intelligence community that existed before September 11, 2001, are not reimposed, and for other purposes.
AlliancesCompetitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficitsCongressional oversightDepartment of JusticeEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEvidence and witnessesFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Federal officialsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationJudicial procedure and administrationNational Security AgencyPrivacy and Civil Liberties Oversight BoardPublic contracts and procurementRight of privacyTerrorism

To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to clarify and improve the procedures and accountability for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, to extend title VII of such Act, to ensure that the barriers to sharing critical foreign intelligence among the intelligence community that existed before September 11, 2001, are not reimposed, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-3989| House 
| Updated: 11/8/2017
Uniting and Strengthening American Liberty Act of 2017 or the USA Liberty Act of 2017 This bill amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to allow the contents of communications by persons outside of the United States to be accessed if the Department of Justice (DOJ) determines there is probable cause to believe that those contents may provide evidence of a crime. Noncontent communication information may be accessed only if DOJ determines that the noncontent information is relevant to an authorized investigation or assessment. DOJ must establish specific procedures when unmasking information is requested. (Unmasking means providing the identity of a U.S. person mentioned in an intelligence report that contains a reference to the person but does not identify the person.) The National Security Act of 1947 is amended to prevent federal employees from taking any personnel action against a contractor employee who has made a lawful disclosure of information that the contractor employee believes provides evidence of a violation of federal law or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. The bill extends to September 30, 2023, the authorization of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows DOJ and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to jointly authorize the electronic surveillance of non-U.S. persons who are outside the United States. The bill increases the criminal penalty (from one to up to five years imprisonment) for knowingly removing classified information without authority and with intent to retain such information at an unauthorized location and imposes a criminal penalty of up to one year imprisonment for negligently removing such information. The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study the unauthorized disclosure of classified information and the U.S. classification system.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Oct 6, 2017
Introduced in House
Oct 6, 2017
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 16, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Oct 20, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Nov 8, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.
Nov 8, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 16, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-2158
Introduced in Senate
  • October 6, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • October 6, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • October 16, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.


  • October 20, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.


  • November 8, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.


  • November 8, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 16, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-2158
    Introduced in Senate
Bob Goodlatte

Bob Goodlatte

Republican Representative

Virginia

Cosponsors (13)
Lamar Smith (Republican)Steve Chabot (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)F. James Sensenbrenner (Republican)Mike Johnson (Republican)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Doug Collins (Republican)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)John Conyers (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)
Committees (6)
• Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee• Homeland Security Committee• Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • S 115-2158: A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to clarify and improve the procedures and accountability for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, to extend title VII of such Act, to ensure that the barriers to sharing critical foreign intelligence among the intelligence community that existed before September 11, 2001, are not reimposed, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AlliancesCompetitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficitsCongressional oversightDepartment of JusticeEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEvidence and witnessesFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Federal officialsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationJudicial procedure and administrationNational Security AgencyPrivacy and Civil Liberties Oversight BoardPublic contracts and procurementRight of privacyTerrorism