Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Lawful Intelligence and Surveillance of Terrorists in an Emergency by NSA Act

or the LISTEN Act.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Conducting electronic surveillance of al Qaeda and other international terrorist groups is integral to protecting people in the United States from terrorism. Electronic surveillance can assist in the detection and prevention of terrorist plots. (2)Electronic surveillance may, at times, involve surveillance of persons in the United States. Such electronic surveillance is lawful if conducted in accordance with the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 or chapters 119 or 121 of title 18, United States Code. (3)It is essential that in protecting the United States from enemies, the President does not compromise the civil liberties that the President is charged with safeguarding. In 2004, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor explained in a plurality opinion for the Supreme Court in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, We have long since made clear that a state of war is not a blank check for the President when it comes to the rights of the Nation’s citizens. (4)Section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States provides that Congress shall have the Power … to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers and all other Powers vested in this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. (5)In passing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, Congress expressly determined that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 and chapters 119 and 121 of title 18, United States Code, are the exclusive means by which surveillance can be conducted in the United States. (6)The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) authorizes the Federal Government to conduct electronic surveillance of persons in the United States for purposes of gathering intelligence and counterintelligence. The Act contains emergency procedures under which electronic surveillance may begin up to 72 hours before the Federal Government presents to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court an application for a court order approving electronic surveillance. (7)The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States declares that The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (8)A determination of reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment must ultimately be made by an independent magistrate, not by an executive branch official. (9)The Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40), passed by Congress on September 14, 2001, does not constitute legal authorization for electronic surveillance not authorized by chapters 119 or 121 of title 18, United States Code, or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

Reiteration of chapters 119 and 121 of title 18, United States Code, and the foreign intelligence surveillance act of 1978 as the exclusive means by which domestic electronic surveillance may be conducted

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, chapters 119 and 121 of title 18, United States Code, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance may be conducted.

Compliance with FISA requirements

(a)

Ensuring compliance

The President shall ensure that all electronic surveillance of persons in the United States is conducted in accordance with chapters 119 or 121 of title 18, United States Code, or title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). (b)

Procedures

The President shall ensure that the procedures for applying for an order for electronic surveillance under title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 continue to be adequate for the timely and efficient electronic surveillance of appropriate targets. (c)

Report

(1)

In general

If at any time the President determines that the procedures described in subsection (b) are not adequate for the timely and efficient electronic surveillance of appropriate targets in accordance with title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, the President shall submit to the relevant congressional committees a report containing findings and recommendations with respect to emergency applications and, to the extent deemed necessary by the President, routine applications for an order under such title on— (A)the level of resources and personnel needed at the National Security Agency and the Department of Justice to handle such applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; (B)the need for new information technology systems to facilitate the near real-time approval of such applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; (C)how to streamline the processing of information that must be presented to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for such an application; (D)how to expedite review within the National Security Agency, the Department of Justice, or other appropriate agencies or departments of such applications before such an application is submitted to the Attorney General; (E)whether a senior official reporting to the Attorney General, such as the Deputy Attorney General or the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, should be authorized to approve such applications; and (F)the need for any legislative changes to improve such procedures. (2)

Date of submission

The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the relevant congressional committees not later than 30 days after the date on which the President determines under such paragraph that the procedures described in subsection (b) are not adequate for the timely electronic surveillance of appropriate targets in the United States. (d)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the President to conduct electronic surveillance other than in accordance with title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 or chapters 119 or 121 of title 18, United States Code.

Authorization for increased resources to process foreign intelligence surveillance act applications

There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Security Agency and the Department of Justice for the activities of the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review such sums as may be necessary to meet the increased personnel and information technology demands to ensure the timely and efficient processing of applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Electronic surveillance

The term electronic surveillance has the meaning given the term in section 101(f) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801(f)). (2)

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

The term Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has the meaning given the term in section 301(3) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1821(3)). (3)

Relevant congressional committees

The term relevant congressional committees means the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.