House Negotiators Nearing Deal to Curb NSA Data Collection Powers

House negotiators are close to a deal that would effectively end the National Security Agency’s controversial bulk data collection program, and congressional aides believe the bill is likely to win the endorsement of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.), who opposed the legislation last year.

 

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.) plans to introduce a bill this week that would “reform our nation’s intelligence-gathering programs operated under” the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a spokeswoman said. His panel is expected to begin holding votes on the bill later this week, and it has support from numerous Democrats, aides familiar with the talks said.

 

The bill would, among other things, no longer allow the NSA to sweep up the telephone records of millions of Americans. Instead, intelligence and law-enforcement officials would need to file a special, tailored request for information through a court-approved process in order to obtain certain records.

 

Read More: House Negotiators Nearing Deal to Curb NSA Data Collection Powers – Washington Wire – WSJ