Aclu fact sheet on the police america act american. As congress continues to revise and amend fisa, the protect america act of 2007 serves as a reminder of the many policy and legal tensions involved as the country grapples with balancing cherished civil liberties against the need for increased security and government accountability in this post911 world. An act to extend the protect america act of 2007 for 15 days united states. Now, after repeated revelations of warrentless wiretaps, we have the protect america act of 2007, amending the foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa of 1978, which required judicial oversight for most federal wiretapping conducted in the united. The act consists of permanent amendments to the fisa in. Nothing in the definition of electronic surveillance under section 101f shall be construed to encompass surveillance directed at a person reasonably believed to be located outside of the united states. Additional procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence information. The protect america act included a short sixmonth sunset provision, triggering another heated debate in the midst of the 2008 democratic primary campaign. My fellow americans, more than 6 years after the attacks of september 11, 2001, we remain at war with adversar. The legislature passed and enacted the protect america act paa on august 3 and 4, 2007. The protect america act paa see august 5, 2007, an amendment to the foreign intelligence surveillance act fisasee 1978, is introduced in congress.
The protect america act of 2007 eliminates civil liberty protections under the 1978 foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa. On any given night in america, approximately 6200 children are held in adult jails and prisons. The bill was considered in the senate on august 3, in conjunction with s. To help explain what the protect america act of 2007 means, cnet has prepared the following frequently asked questions, or faq list. The bill carves out a broad exemption from a 1978 law that requires the government to obtain a judges permission to monitor calls and emails on us soil. Protect america act of 2007 is the modernized version of the foreign intelligence surveillance act or fisa department of justice 2007, 2007. The foreign intelligence surveillance act of 1978 50 u. With limited debate and no committee hearings, it passes both houses with substantial majorities. How congress unknowingly legalized prism in 2007 the. This act may be cited as the protect america act of 2007. The act, passed with bipartisan support in the house and the senate, restores fisa to its original focus on. Here is the presidents entire address, with my comments in footnotes.
First there was the military commission act, passed after the court questioned the suspension of habeas corpus. First passed in 1976, the msa fosters longterm biological and economic sustainability of our nations marine fisheries. The following are key myths about fisa amendments in the protect america act, and the facts that refute them. The act, which passed with bipartisan support in the house and senate and was signed into law by president bush on august 5, 2007.
Government printing office page 551 protect america act of 2007 page 121 stat. The socalled protect america act of 2007, which we are calling the police america act, allows for massive, untargeted collection of international communications without court order or meaningful oversight by either congress or the courts. House of representatives 836 s 1927 on passage yeaandnay passed 4aug2007 10. Instead, the protect america act went much further. Crs on the protect america act federation of american. Protect america act of 2007 how is protect america act. Oppose senate introduction of the protect and serve act of. It removed the warrant requirement for government surveillance of foreign intelligence targets reasonably believed to be outside the united states. Protect america act of 2007 wikisource, the free online. Alphabetical by senator name akaka dhi, nay alexander rtn, not voting allard rco, yea barrasso rwy, yea baucus dmt, nay bayh din, yea bennett rut, yea biden dde, nay. The protect america act modernized the foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa to provide our intelligence community essential tools to acquire important information about terrorists who want to harm america. Sponsored by senator mitch mcconnell on august 1 this year, it was enacted by congress and signed into law by president george w. I appreciate this opportunity to discuss the 2007 protect america act. It dramatically broadens the governments authority to listen in on the conversations of anyone outside the united states without a warrant, even if that person is a u.
Part ii of this note summarizes the enactment of the tsp as well as its. The act, which passed with bipartisan support in the house and senate and was signed into law by president bush on august 5, 2007, restores fisa to its original focus of protecting the rights of persons in the united states, while not acting as an obstacle to gathering foreign. An act to extend the protect america act of 2007 for 15. House judiciary committee, 9182007 congressional democrats. Capitol begins as you enter the capitol visitor center. Classification guide for fisa, the protect america act and. This morning senator reid submitted an amendment in the form of a substitute, which includes s. The national strategy for homeland security serves as our guide to leverage americas talents and resources to meet this obligation. This act pertains to foreign intelligence information gathering.
Protect america act of 2007 an act 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. Just before midnight on saturday, congress passed the protect america act of 2007, which was largely drafted by the white house and received no committee hearing. On behalf the american civil liberties union aclu, human rights watch, the leadership conference on civil and human rights the leadership conference, and naacp legal defense and educational fund, inc. Protect america act of 2007 amends the foreign intelligence surveillance act of 1978 fisa to state that nothing under its definition of electronic surveillance shall be construed to encompass surveillance directed at a person reasonably believed to be located outside the united states. Uniting and strengthening america by fulfilling rights and ending eavesdropping, dragnetcollection and online monitoring act usa freedom act to give a very brief history, fisa was enacted in 1978before the proliferation of the internetand governed both the physical and electronic surveillance of primarily foreign powers and agents. Voting record in senate us senate web site 832007 us senate posted on 08062007 4. Aclu analysis of the protect america act american civil. It was signed into law by president bush the following day but it only had a lifetime of 180 days. The visitors center is located below the east plaza of the capitol between constitution and independence avenues. Thank you for inviting me to appear here today in my capacity as head of the united states intelligence community ic. Protect america act of 2007 how is protect america act of 2007 abbreviated. This week i visited with troops at charleston air force base. The protect america act modernizes the foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa to give intelligence professionals the tools they urgently need to gather information about our enemies, while.
The protect america act modernizes the foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa to give intelligence professionals the tools they urgently need to gather information about our enemies, while protecting the civil liberties of americans. Naacp ldf, we write to urge you to oppose introduction and cosponsorship of the protect and serve act of 2018. A breakdown of the patriot act, freedom act, and fisa. Jjdpas jail removal and sight and sound core protections do not apply to youth charged as adults. It removed the warrant requirement for government surveillance of foreign intelligence targets reasonably believed to. Clarifies, that nothing in the definition of electronic surveillance under fisa section 101f shall be construed to encompass surveillance directed at a person reasonably believed. Director mcconnell has warned that unless the fisa reforms in the act are made permanent, our national security professionals will lose critical tools they need to protect our country. And sometimes they are meant to garner political support for a law by giving it a catchy name as with the usa patriot act or the take pride in america act or by invoking public outrage or sympathy as with any. Yesterday afternoon, the senate voted to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to s. Classification guide for fisa, the protect america act and the fisa amendments act by charlie savage march 11, 2014 the foreign intelligence surveillance act regulates spying for national security. It never mentions terrorism, and nothing about the activities requires even criminal behavior. Sometimes they are a way of recognizing or honoring the sponsor or creator of a particular law as with the tafthartley act.
President bush discusses the protect america act of 2007. The magnusonstevens fishery conservation and management act is the primary law governing marine fisheries management in u. Modifications to the foreign intelligence surveillance act summary on august 5, 2007, p. The protect america act act had nothing to do with foreign terrorists. The congress looked into the restore act which was supposed to make the amendments in the fisa permanent.
I call on congress to make the protect america act permanent. It removed the warrant requirement for government surveillance. Markles collaboration and information sharing recommendations informed the 911 commission report, the intelligence reform and terrorism prevention act of 2004, and the protect america act of 2007. September 18, 2007 good morning chairman conyers, ranking member smith, and members of the committee. An act to make provision for protecting individuals against being forced to enter into marriage without their free and full consent and for protecting individuals who have been forced to enter into marriage without such consent.
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