United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 6172 (116th)
USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020
Introduced
10 March 2020
Last action
1 June 2020 · Floor
Status
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.
Sponsors
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
Subjects
Defence
Source updated
28 May 2025
Summary
USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes through December 1, 2023, provisions related to intelligence gathering under the Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance Act (FISA) and amends FISA-related provisions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation may not seek certain FISA-authorized orders to obtain (1) call detail records on an ongoing basis, (2) a tangible thing where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and a warrant would typically be required, or (3) cellular or GPS location information. In applications for certain FISA-authorized orders to obtain information or conduct surveillance, the applicant must certify that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has received any information that might raise doubts about the application. The bill imposes additional requirements on FISA-authorized orders targeting a (1) U.S. person, or (2) federal elected official or candidate. The bill increases criminal penalties for violations related to electronic surveillance conducted under color of law or false statements made to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA court). The bill broadens the criteria for when a FISA court decision shall be declassified and requires the declassification review and release of such opinions within 180 days of an opinion being issued. The bill broadens the FISA court's authority to appoint an amicus curiae (an outside party that assists in consideration of a case) and expands such amici's powers, such as the power to ask the court to review a decision. Each agency that submits applications to the FISA court shall appoint an officer responsible for compliance with FISA requirements.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
10 March 2020
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 891 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 68, H.R. 2486 and H.R. 6172. Resolution provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 68, the Senate amendment to H.R. 2486, and H.R. 6172. For S.J. Res. 68, the resolution provides for 1 hour of debate and 1 motion to commit. For the Senate amendment to H.R. 2486, the question will be divided and each portion will have 1 hour of debate. H.R. 6172 will have 1 hour ofdebate and 1 motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Source: Floor
10 March 2020
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Oversight and Reform, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Source: IntroReferral
10 March 2020
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
10 March 2020
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
11 March 2020
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 - 136 (Roll no. 98).
Source: Floor
11 March 2020
Calendars
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Source: Calendars
11 March 2020
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
11 March 2020
Vote
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 - 136 (Roll no. 98). (text: CR H1622-1627)
Source: Floor
11 March 2020
Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Source: Floor
11 March 2020
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 68, H.R. 2486 and H.R. 6172. Resolution provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 68, the Senate amendment to H.R. 2486, and H.R. 6172. For S.J. Res. 68, the resolution provides for 1 hour of debate and 1 motion to commit. For the Senate amendment to H.R. 2486, the question will be divided and each portion will have 1 hour of debate. H.R. 6172 will have 1 hour ofdebate and 1 motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Source: Floor
11 March 2020
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 891. (consideration: CR H1622-1637)
Source: Floor
11 March 2020
Passed
Rule H. Res. 891 passed House.
Source: Floor
12 March 2020
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1735)
Source: Floor
12 March 2020
Calendars
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 440.
Source: Calendars
16 March 2020
Floor
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1748)
Source: Floor
13 May 2020
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2388, S2396-2400, S2409-2412, S2414)
Source: Floor
14 May 2020
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate, under the order of 5/12/20, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 16. Record Vote Number: 92.
Source: Floor
14 May 2020
Floor
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2432-2441)
Source: Floor
28 May 2020
ResolvingDifferences
The Speaker appointed conferees: Nadler, Schiff, Lofgren, Jordan, and Nunes.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
28 May 2020
Vote
On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and request a conference Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 284 - 122 (Roll no. 115).
Source: ResolvingDifferences
28 May 2020
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to disagree to the Senate amendments and request a conference on H.R. 6172.
Source: Floor
28 May 2020
ResolvingDifferences
Mr. Nadler moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and request a conference. (consideration: CR H2340-2346; text: CR H2340-2342)
Source: ResolvingDifferences
1 June 2020
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.
Source: Floor
Votes
28 May 2020 · passed · On Motion to Disagree to the Senate Amendments and Request a Conference · Passed · Official source
Yes 284 · No 122 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 25
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]Yea
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]Yea
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]Yea
- Rep. Finkenauer, Abby [D-IA-1]Yea
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
14 May 2020 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill H.R. 6172 · Bill Passed · Official source
Yes 80 · No 16 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 4
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]Yea
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]Yea
- Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]Yea
- Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE]Not Voting
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
11 March 2020 · passed · On Passage · Passed · Official source
Yes 278 · No 136 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 15
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]Yea
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]Yea
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]Yea
- Rep. Finkenauer, Abby [D-IA-1]Yea
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Engrossed Amendment Senate · 14 May 2020 · Download file
- Placed on Calendar Senate · 12 March 2020 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 11 March 2020 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 10 March 2020 · Download file
Documents
11 official files
Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)
This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)
Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 14 May 2020
Engrossed Amendment Senate (PDF)
Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 14 May 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Passed Senate
summary · EN · 14 May 2020
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Placed on Calendar Senate (text)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 12 March 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 12 March 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 11 March 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 11 March 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Passed House
summary · EN · 11 March 2020
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 10 March 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 10 March 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 10 March 2020
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] · D · Sponsor
- · hshm00 · Standing
- · hsgo00 · Standing
- · hlig00 · Select
- · hsju00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 68) to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress; providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2486) to reauthorize mandatory funding programs for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6172) to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to prohibit the production of certain business records, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.
- related to → USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020
- related to ← Providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 6172) to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to prohibit the production of certain business records, and for other purposes.
- amends ← Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 891, the amendment printed in House Report 116-415 is adopted.
- amends ← An amendment to change the title to read "A bill to be known as the Federal Initiative to Spy on Americans (FISA) Act".
- amends ← To remove internet website browsing information and search history from scope of authority to access certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations.
- amends ← To improve the amicus provisions and require the disclosure of relevant information.
- amends ← To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to prohibit the use of authorities under such Act to surveil United States persons and to prohibit the use of information acquired under such Act in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding or as part of any criminal, civil, or administrative investigation, and for other purposes.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6172
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/116/hr/6172
- us · 116-hr-6172 · source updated 28 May 2025