Bill Sponsor
House Bill 8970
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Protect Our Civil Liberties Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Dec 15, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced
Dec 15, 2020
Latest Action
Dec 15, 2020
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
8970
Congress
116
Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National Security
Primary focus of measure is military operations and spending, facilities, procurement and weapons, personnel, intelligence; strategic materials; war and emergency powers; veterans’ issues. Measures concerning alliances and collective security, arms sales and military assistance, or arms control may fall under International Affairs policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Hawaii
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Protect Our Civil Liberties Act

This bill limits government surveillance, including by repealing the USA PATRIOT Act and certain provisions of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, and contains other intelligence-related provisions.

Specifically, the bill repeals all provisions of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 except for a provision requiring certain Department of Justice reports to Congress and another provision authorizing the acquisition of foreign intelligence from certain entities engaged in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Information that concerns a U.S. person must be destroyed if it was previously collected under the laws repealed by the bill.

The bill also prohibits the federal government from (1) acquiring information relating to a U.S. person by using certain foreign intelligence gathering authority without a warrant, (2) requiring electronics or software manufacturers to install a mechanism for the government to bypass encryption or privacy technology, or (3) retaliating against intelligence community whistleblowers.

The bill also extends the terms of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judges from 7 to 10 years and makes such judges eligible for reappointment. Such judges may also appoint special masters to advise the court on technical issues.

The Government Accountability Office must annually evaluate the federal government's compliance with certain laws concerning the collection of foreign intelligence.

Text (1)
December 15, 2020
Actions (2)
12/15/2020
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, 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.
12/15/2020
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:43:58 PM