110th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 309

• Question: On Passage of the Bill
• Bill: S 1927
• Vote description: S.1927 as Amended; A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to provide additional procedures for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence information and for other purposes.
• Vote type: 3/5 (Help)
  A three-fifths majority of those present and voting is required for approval or passage. Used in the Senate.
• Result: Passed, 60-28, with 12 not voting.
• Date/time: August 3, 2007, 9:16 p.m.
• Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
  The position of more than 50 percent of voting Republicans. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."
• Democrat majority opinion: No (Help)
  The position of more than 50 percent of voting Democrats. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."

Key Vote Analysis

This amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 passed 60-28 on August 3. The bill gives U.S. spy agencies expanded power to eavesdrop on foreign suspects without a court order.

The bill gives the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General authorization for periods up to one year, to information concerning suspected terrorists outside the United States.

The existing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act contained a 30-year-old statute requiring a warrant to monitor calls intercepted in the United States, regardless of their origin. The new Protect America Act amends this stipulation, allowing U.S. intelligence officials to monitor suspicious communication originating inside the U.S. The Bush administration argued that it needs the expanded power to confront terrorist threats.

Civil liberties and privacy advocates argue the bill jeopardizes the Fourth Amendment privacy rights and allows for the warrantless monitoring of virtually any form of communication originating in the United States.

Democrats managed a minor victory requiring a sunset clause effective 180 days after the bill is signed.

In place of a court's approval, the National Security Agency plans to institute a system of internal bureaucratic controls.

The bill passed in the House 227-183, and was sent to the White House soon after to be signed into law.

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Vote totals