NSA Accountability Act

Bill: 113-hr-3070
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [R-PA-8]
Introduced: 2013-09-09
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Business records

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Department of Justice

Evidence and witnesses

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Judicial procedure and administration

Law enforcement administration and funding

Terrorism
Latest action: action_date: 2013-10-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-09-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>NSA Accountability Act - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) (as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act) to require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (in some cases, on behalf of the National Security Agency [NSA]), in applications for court orders requiring the production of tangible things (commonly referred to as business records, including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) for an investigation to obtain foreign intelligence information not concerning a U.S. person or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities, to include a statement of specific and articulable facts showing reasonable grounds to believe that such things are relevant and material to an authorized investigation. (Currently, a general statement of facts must only show that the tangible things are relevant to an authorized investigation.)</p> <p>Requires that the items sought pertain only to an individual that is the subject of such investigation.</p> <p>Removes a list of production items currently designated as presumptively relevant. (Currently, tangible things are considered to be presumptively relevant if the government shows that they pertain to a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power, the activities of a suspected agent of a foreign power who is the subject of such authorized investigation, or an individual in contact with, or known to, a suspected agent of a foreign power who is the subject of such authorized investigation.)</p> <p>Requires, in the case of a violation of the requirements addressing production orders for tangible things, that all unobligated funds made available to carry out such activities in the fiscal year be withheld for the period beginning on the date of such violation until September 30 of such fiscal year.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3070 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 9, 2013 Mr. Fitzpatrick introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Select 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 A BILL To amend section 501 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to reform access to certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the NSA Accountability Act . 2. Reforms to access to certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations (a) In general Subsection (b)(2)(A) of section 501 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1861) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding clause (i)— (A) by inserting specific and articulable before facts showing ; (B) by inserting and material after are relevant ; and (C) by striking clandestine intelligence activities and all that follows and inserting clandestine intelligence activities and pertain only to an individual that is the subject of such investigation; and ; and (2) by striking clauses (i) through (iii). (b) Withholding of funds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a violation of section 501 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 ( 50 U.S.C. 1861 ) in a fiscal year, all unobligated funds made available for such fiscal year to carry out such section shall be withheld for the period beginning on the date of such violation and ending on September 30 of such fiscal year.