Electronic Modernization Surveillance Act, HR 5825

On Friday, Sept. 21, the House of Representatives passed this bill, which

would broaden the U.S. government’s ability to conduct electronic surveillance on U.S. residents by making it easier for federal law enforcement officials to get court-issued warrants.

The Electronic Modernization Surveillance Act, opposed by several privacy groups, would also allow federal law enforcement officials to spy on U.S. residents for up to 90 days without a court order in the period after a terrorist attack. The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation Wednesday by a 20-16 vote, with all committee Democrats present voting against the bill.

from CIO Magazine, http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=25020


See link for a Congressional Research Service report on the bill.

Link for a transcript of testimony on the bill from Heather Wilson, Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Technical and Tactical Intelligence Subcommittee

(both links above are courtesy of the Federation of American Scientists, which has a Government Secrecy Project Link with very helpful information on a variety of these bills and policies)

Thomas link to full text, summaries, Congressional Budget Office cost estimates, and all Congressional actions on the bill.