Protecting Americans from Unauthorized Surveillance Act

Ted Lieu

Democrat · CA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2026-04-02

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would restrict government agencies' ability to conduct surveillance on Americans without proper legal authorization, likely by requiring warrants or court approval before monitoring communications or activities. The legislation aims to protect citizens' privacy rights by limiting what federal agencies like the FBI and NSA can do when investigating potential threats or crimes. The bill has been sent to two congressional committees for review and debate before any vote can take place.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8178 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8178 To protect Americans from unauthorized surveillance. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 2, 2026 Mr. Lieu introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To protect Americans from unauthorized surveillance. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Americans from Unauthorized Surveillance Act''. SEC. 2. FISA OVERSIGHT OFFICE. (a) In General.--Title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 113. FISA OVERSIGHT OFFICE. ``(a) In General.--There is established an office, to be known as the `FISA Oversight Office', within the Department of Justice (hereinafter in this section referred to as the `Office'). The Office-- ``(1) shall evaluate each application under this title; ``(2) except as provided in paragraph (3), if the Office determines based on the evaluation under paragraph (1) that the probable cause standard under section 105(a)(2) may not be met, may-- ``(A) petition to be joined as a party; and ``(B) file a motion with the court alleging that such standard has not been met; and ``(3) if the application is for the surveillance of a United States person and if the Office determines based on the evaluation under paragraph (1) that the probable cause standard under section 105(a)(2) has not been clearly met, shall-- ``(A) petition to be joined as a party; and ``(B) file a motion with the court alleging that such standard has not been met. ``(b) Access to Information.--The Federal office filing the application shall provide the Office all available evidence that pertains to an investigation into a United States person. That officer is required to notify the Office each time an application is filed with the court established under section 103(a). ``(c) Report Required.--Not later than 365 days after the effective date of this section, the Attorney General and the Director shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing-- ``(1) the number of applications for which the FISA Oversight Office has filed a motion under subsection (a)(2)(B) or (a)(3)(B) and information regarding the subject of such applications and the information sought to be collected; ``(2) the number of such applications that the FISA Oversight Office has declined to challenge, and information regarding the subject of such applications and the information sought to be collected, as well as information regarding the Office's decision not to challenge.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for such Act is amended by inserting after the item pertaining to section 112 the following: ``Sec. 113. FISA Oversight Office.''. SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE COURT TO APPOINT AMICUS CURIAE. Section 103(i) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1803(i)) is amended-- (1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: ``(2) Requirement.--A court established under subsection (a) or (b), consistent with the requirement of subsection (c) and any other statutory requirement that the court act expeditiously or within a stated time, shall appoint an individual who has been designated under paragraph (1) to serve as amicus curiae to assist such court in the consideration of each application for…

an order or review under this title.''; (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``If a court established under subsection (a) or (b) appoints an amicus curiae under paragraph (2)(A)'' and inserting ``An amicus curiae appointed under paragraph (2)(A)''; (3) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``If a court established under subsection (a) or (b) appoints an amicus curiae under paragraph (2), the amicus curiae'' and inserting ``An amicus curiae appointed under paragraph (2)(A)''; and (4) by repealing paragraph (7). <all>

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