April 30 (Reuters) – Congress on Thursday passed a 45-day extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, prolonging a debate about a section of the spy law that critics say enables the abusive surveillance of American citizens.
The law was set to expire at midnight on Thursday after having already been extended for 10 days on April 20.
Proponents of the law, which allows warrantless searches of data scooped up by America’s intelligence agencies, say it provides authorities with an unparalleled tool to protect U.S. national security. Critics say it gives law enforcement an end run around constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure, and they have long sought to add a warrant requirement.
The extension comes after the House passed a bill on Wednesday that included restrictions on the Federal Reserve’s ability to issue digital currency, something Senate Republican leaders saw as a non-starter.
With time dwindling to hammer out the differences between the House and Senate, lawmakers decided to punt, passing the extension in the Senate via unanimous consent and a 261-111 vote in the House.
The extension is likely to do little more than draw out the fight over renewal ever further.
Reformers are still pressing for a warrant requirement. The White House, the intelligence community and Congressional leadership have all lobbied furiously for the renewal of the law without one, saying past abuses had been addressed as part of 2024 reforms.
“I don’t know what they think, what’s going to change in 45 days,” said Pennsylvania Republican Representative Scott Perry, who voted against the Senate’s extension.
(Reporting by AJ Vicens in Detroit, Editing by Chris Reese)
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