House Speaker Mike Johnson is leading the renewal of FISA Section 702. (Getty Images)
A modified version of the original bill passed a procedural hurdle late on Thursday after a group of 19 conservative privacy hawks sunk the House GOP's chance at passing it earlier this week.
The legislation is aimed at reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to surveil foreigners abroad with suspected terror links without a warrant. Section 702 allows the FBI to collect communications of a narrow list of foreign targets, even if the person at the other end of the suspect's communications is an American.
The battle over its renewal has put Johnson in a tough spot between privacy and national security hawks within his conference, while he also navigates a razor-thin majority of just two seats.
National security hawks and members of the intelligence community have called it a critical tool for preventing another 9/11-style attack. However, critics, including both conservatives and progressives, have been seeking to limit its scope after reported instances of abuse to collect data on Americans.
To do that, the House Judiciary Committee backed an amendment that would have required a warrant to query Americans' data that was collected in the Section 702 system. Opponents of the measure have said it would critically hamper the intelligence community's ability to quickly detect major threats and equated it to forcing police to get a warrant before running a license plate during a traffic stop.
It was tense in the House chamber on Friday when that amendment, which ultimately failed to pass in a 212 to 212 vote, was being considered. Johnson cast a critical and potentially decisive vote against the amendment.
An unusual political scene unfurled as members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus cheered for progressive "Squad" members voting in favor of the amendment.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLAST 'CRY WOLF' CONSERVATIVES WHO TANKED FISA RENEWAL BILL
Republican presidential candidate former President Trump opposed the RISA Act earlier this week. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
House GOP leaders assuaged conservatives' concerns by promising a standalone vote on Davidson's amendment, though the timing of that is still unclear.
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The modified legislation also shrinks the Section 702 reauthorization window from five years to two years.
It would give the opportunity for the next administration, likely a Trump or Biden White House, to reform the tool early in the next presidential term.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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