The Senate will “urgently” consider Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reform legislation next week, according to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
An update on upcoming activity in the upper chamber that was released late Sunday night by the Kentucky Republican also offered a road map for the emergency coronavirus spending package passed by the House last week and additional relief legislation that could follow.
Three FISA authorities, including roving wiretap powers, the business records provision, and the “lone wolf” amendment, expire sunset on Sunday at midnight. The USA Freedom Reauthorization Act passed the House by a 278-136 vote last week, bringing together Republicans and Democrats, many of whom wanted stronger privacy protections for U.S. citizens and steps toward solving surveillance issues that arose from an examination of the Russia investigation.
McConnell said the Senate would consider the bill, which is supported by Attorney General William Barr, right away.
“Several important authorities that law enforcement use to defend our homeland and protect Americans are currently set to expire. The Senate will urgently consider the reauthorization and reform legislation which passed the House with a wide bipartisan majority and is endorsed by the Attorney General,” he said.
President Trump, who has been lobbied by GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah to oppose the deal, has suggested he may veto the bill.
McConnell, who delayed a recess that was planned for this week, also provided an outline for how the Senate will tackle the coronavirus response bill that passed the House by a 363-to-40 vote after midnight on Saturday hours after Trump backed the deal on Twitter.
Nationally, there have been more than 3,200 coronavirus cases and at least 62 deaths. The stock market plunged into bear territory last week over fears about the coronavirus, which was declared to be a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Trump declared a national emergency on Friday and placed travel restrictions on much of Europe, adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to the list on Saturday, after placing restrictions on China in January and Iran in February.
“The Senate will convene tomorrow to continue work on crucial legislation for the American people,” the majority leader said.
“First, we still need to receive the final version of the House’s coronavirus relief legislation. I commend [Treasury Secretary Steven] Mnuchin for his hard work on this. I know Senators on both sides are carefully reviewing the details and are eager to act swiftly to help American workers, families, and small businesses navigate this challenging time,” McConnell said.
“Second, Senate Republicans feel strongly that this bill must only be the beginning of Congress’s efforts to support our nation’s economy and stand with American families,” McConnell added, before noting he has spoken to several committee leaders who agreed “confronting this virus will take boldness, bipartisanship, and a comprehensive approach.”
Mnuchin said on Sunday he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are already discussing legislation to assist industries hit hard by the pandemic, adding to the just-advanced bipartisan legislation to help workers in order to confront the economic fallout from the coronavirus.
“I think we’re in the second inning of nine innings, and we will use whatever tools we need,” he said in an appearance on ABC’s This Week.
McConnell said further steps would include helping people overcome financial hardship in the weeks and months ahead, stabilize the economy and the stock market, and bolstering the healthcare system. He added that the Senate is “eager” to continue working with the House in the effort.
“This new disease is challenging our great nation in unfamiliar ways. But we have overcome far greater challenges before. Those of us in elected office — at all levels — must continue to put partisanship aside and focus on our common work to serve the common good,” McConnell concluded.
