Conservative holdouts on Thursday appear to be warming to modifications proposed to the legislation reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, following a procedural vote that resulted in an embarrassing defeat for House Republican leadership.
The new version of the bill, which is now a two-year reauthorization instead of five years, has garnered support from conservatives. This change means that if former President Donald Trump were to win the presidential election this year, the legislation would be up for review during his potential second term, allowing for potential revisions to FISA laws.
One Republican representative expressed optimism about the revised bill, stating, 'We just bought President Trump an at bat.' The previous version of the bill would have extended reauthorization beyond the Trump presidency, but the new two-year timeframe provides an opportunity for Trump to address concerns related to FISA laws.
The House Rules Committee voted 8-4 on Thursday evening to advance the revised FISA reauthorization bill to the floor for further debate. The bill is expected to be voted on Friday morning, with Republican leadership anticipating support from conservative members who were previously hesitant.
This development marks a shift in conservative attitudes towards the FISA reauthorization bill, with some members now pledging to back the rule vote on the floor. The potential for President Trump to influence FISA laws in the future has been highlighted as a significant factor in garnering support for the revised legislation.
