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.
• 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
Introduced in House
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.
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.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 8.
• 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
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