Spy Powers Renewal Clears House Hurdle But Faces Uphill Battle

A controversial spy powers reauthorization will head to the House floor for consideration after a key panel vote Tuesday night, but the bill still faces an uphill battle ahead of an April 20 expiration.

The House Rules Committee voted 6-4 to advance a procedural motion related to reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Section 702, which allows US agencies to probe the communications of foreigners overseas. Progressive Democrats and conservative GOP privacy hawks alike say the tool gives the US government too much leeway to collect Americans’ data without warrants if they’re in communication with foreigners.

Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), ...