Proposed Change to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) under S. 113

Publication Date: May 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

The Senate recently passed S. 113, a bill in the 108th Congress to extend the coverage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ("FISA") to non-United States persons who engage in international terrorism or activities in preparation for international terrorism, without a showing of membership in or affiliation with an international terrorist group. FISA provides a means by which the government can obtain approval to conduct electronic surveillance (wiretap) and other searches with respect to a foreign power or its agents in order to obtain intelligence related to espionage, terrorism, or other matters involving national security.