House advances surveillance program after days of upheaval

WASHINGTON>>

The House voted Friday to reauthorize and reform a key U.S. government surveillance tool after a dramatic showdown on the floor over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans’ data.

The bill was approved on a bipartisan basis, 273-147, although it must clear the Senate. The surveillance program is set to expire Friday unless Congress acts.

Passage of the bill represented a needed victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA., who has been wrangling with conservative critics for months. A group of 19 Republicans revolted to block the bill from coming to the floor earlier in the week, forcing Johnson to make late changes to secure their support.

The legislation approved Friday would extend the surveillance program for two years, rather than the full five-year authorization first proposed. Johnson hoped the shorter timeline would sway GOP critics by pushing future debate on the issue to the presidency of Donald Trump if he were to win back the White House in November.

Still, the legislation teetered precariously Friday morning as lawmakers voted on an amendment — vociferously opposed by Johnson, the White House and sponsors of the legislation — that would have prohibited the warrantless surveillance of Americans.

One of his top critics, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, said Johnson’s vote against the warrant requirement was another strike against him.

“Basically, what’s the difference in Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and Speaker Johnson, and there’s not one,” the Georgia lawmaker said.

The amendment ultimately failed by the narrowest of margins, in a 212-212 tie.

The vote on the amendment cut across party lines, uniting progressives and conservatives who agree on little else but have long been skeptical of the government’s surveillance powers.

And opponents of the legislation weren’t giving up. In a surprise move after the vote was closed on the overall bill, a Republican made a procedural motion preventing the legislation from being sent to the Senate. An additional vote will be needed next week.