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The U.S. Capitol Dome at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2023.
Conservative resistance on Thursday appeared to favor amendments to the bill reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but a day later, 19 conservatives pushed through a procedural vote related to the bill. , inflicting another embarrassing defeat on House Republican leadership.
The new bill would extend the reauthorization period to two years instead of five, meaning if former President Donald Trump wins this year’s presidential election, he will have time for the next review of the FISA law.
“We just bought President Trump an at-bat. A previous version of this bill would have extended the reauthorization beyond President Trump’s term,” Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz told CNN. and pledged to support a floor rules vote scheduled for Friday morning, according to a Republican leadership aide. “Now President Trump will be at bat to repair the system that has sacrificed him more than any other American.”
The House Rules Committee voted 8-4 Thursday night to move the amended FISA reauthorization bill to the floor.
The aide said House Speaker Mike Johnson will set up a secret reading room outside the House chamber to allow members to view classified information ahead of Friday’s vote on FISA reauthorization as the bill inclines toward the number of votes needed to pass the bill. It is said that it was installed.
Prime Minister Johnson hopes the confidential documents will convince all member states that passing the FISA bill is critical to national security. Because with such a slim majority there is no room for error. Aides said viewing will be allowed at 8 a.m. before a rules vote is scheduled for 8:45 a.m.
Hardliners are touting the two-year reauthorization as a major victory and say they will vote on a data privacy bill that would be subject to the rule next week in a separate chamber from Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio. It is claimed that an agreement has been reached.
“We are also excited to receive absolute assurance from the Speaker that we will submit the Davidson amendment as a rules vote next week as part of these discussions,” Gates said. Gaetz said the hardliners were “really grateful to have accepted some of our demands.”
Republican Rep. Corey Mills of Florida said he hasn’t decided on the rules yet, but indicated he was preparing for the idea after receiving concessions from Republican leadership. did.
“We didn’t actually make that decision,” Mills said. “There are some incremental changes to get us closer to that point.”
But whether Mills actually supports the underlying bill depends on whether the Davidson amendment is adopted, he said.
Texas Rep. Chip Roy, who voted against the rule Wednesday, said he doesn’t want to get ahead of things, but “I like the progress that’s being made.”
“We’re becoming more and more optimistic, but obviously we’re continuing to have the conversations that we need to have to get the votes,” Roy said.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida also said she supports a rules vote.
“I heard that the negotiations went well,” Luna said.
South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman said he was pleased with the changes.
“If nothing else, I’m fine,” Norman said.
Republican leaders have also been in contact with President Trump about changes to the bill. Majority Leader Steve Scalise told reporters earlier Thursday that over the past 24 hours, lawmakers have been talking about President Trump and FISA since Trump called on them to “kill FISA” before voting down the rules. He said he had discussed it.
Scalise said the new version of the bill “certainly provides a smoother path to passage.”
“I’ve had some conversations with the president, and I’m not going to share those conversations, but I think a two-year sinking has a lot of appeal for a lot of people,” Scalise said.
Asked if he was attractive to President Trump, Scalise said, “For a lot of people.”
Prime Minister Johnson is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Florida on Friday.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Kristin Wilson contributed to this report.
