The House Rules Committee advanced a modified version of a key federal surveillance extension, increasing pressure on Republicans to forgo their recent infighting and pass the legislation ahead of its scheduled expiration next week.
The committee advanced a new proposal to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act during a late-night meeting on Thursday, adding several provisions to persuade a substantial number of hard-line conservatives to back the legislation. The bill is now scheduled to reach the floor for debate early Friday morning, with a final vote expected later in the day.
The altered bill comes after 19 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against a procedural rule that would have moved the FISA reform bill forward, effectively putting the House at a standstill un …