House readies vote to renew FISA 702 without a warrant amendment

The House is expected to take up reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act on Wednesday without a key vote on a warrant requirement after the House Rules Committee approved a closed rule preventing such an amendment Tuesday night, even as Republican leaders face the possibility the surveillance law’s renewal lacks the support to pass in its current form.

The spying power, which expires April 20 unless extended, lets intelligence agencies compel internet service providers to furnish communications of foreigners located abroad without a warrant. But the process can also collect U.S. person communications if they are in contact with a foreign target, raising Fourth Amendment concerns when the contents of those U.S. person calls, text messages and emails are subsequently searched.

Privacy advocates have long pushed for a warrant measure for collected U.S. person data queried under the program. 

Three GOP members ...