House Leaders Plan Spy Powers Renewal of at Least 18 Months (1)

House leaders are planning a vote on reauthorization of a controversial spy powers law “soon” as an April 20 expiration approaches, the chamber’s top two Republicans said Tuesday.

“We’re hoping that we can get a clean authorization done for at least 18 months,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters. Conservative privacy hawks have long called for changes to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, making passage of the reauthorization a heavy lift for House leaders.

“We’re going to be moving it soon,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said of the timeline.

Section 702 of FISA permits agencies ...