The House passed a 45-day clean extension of Section 702 of FISA — the government's warrantless surveillance authority — after the Senate failed to accept the House's long-term extension of the program.
Why it matters: The national security tool won't lapse Thursday night, but lawmakers are punting another thorny fight just weeks down the road.
- A group of lawmakers has dug in on demanding warrant requirements be attached to the bill despite leadership's resistance.
- Thursday's vote was 261-111. The bill now heads to the president's desk for his signature.
Driving the news: The House on Wednesday evening passed a three-year extension of the program.
- House GOP leaders tacked on a ban on a central bank digital currency to win over conservative holdouts who had pushed for broader surveillance reforms.
- But that provision drew bipartisan opposition in the Senate, where lawmakers opted instead Thursday to pass the 45-day patch.
Catch up quick: Congress passed an initial short-term FISA extension earlier this month after a group of House Republicans blocked attempts to pass five-year and 18-month renewals of the program.
- The first short-term patch didn't turn out to be enough time to pass a full extension.
What's next: Congressional leaders now have an additional 45 days to try to break the impasse.
