H.R. 4478: FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-11-29 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Intelligence. H. Rept. 115-475, Part I.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-11-29 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Nunes, Devin [R-CA-22] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Intelligence. H. Rept. 115-475, Part I. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017

Plain summary

FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 This bill amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to allow the Department of Justice (DOJ) to target a U.S. person outside of the United States to acquire foreign intelligence when DOJ has already authorized emergency use of electronic surveillance or a physical search related to such person. DOJ and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence must submit a written notice to Congress before intentionally collecting abouts communications (communications that contain a reference to but are not directed to or from a facility) relating to surveillance of a non-U.S. person outside the United States. DOJ shall submit to Congress and the Administrative Office of the United States an annual report with: (1) the total number of applications made and extensions of orders approving electronic surveillance; (2) the total number of such orders and extensions granted, modified, or denied; and (3) the total number of persons who were subject to electronic surveillance conducted under an order or emergency authorization. Each element of the intelligence community must develop and maintain procedures to respond to requests for nonpublic information about U.S. persons. This bill extends title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through December 31, 2021. The Government Accountability Office must study the U.S. classified information system and the methods by which the intelligence community protects classified information.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Nunes, Devin [R-CA-22] · 16 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4478, FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 (2017-12-20)

Cosponsors on this site

Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (R-AR), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Ken Calvert (R-CA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr4478.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4478 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115