PDF Version
S 2455 IS
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2455
To provide in statute for the conduct of electronic
surveillance of suspected terrorists for the purposes of protecting the
American people, the Nation, and its interests from terrorist attack
while ensuring that the civil liberties of United States citizens are
safeguarded, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 16 (legislative day, MARCH 15), 2006
Mr. DEWINE (for himself, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. HAGEL, and Ms. SNOWE)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To provide in statute for the conduct of electronic
surveillance of suspected terrorists for the purposes of protecting the
American people, the Nation, and its interests from terrorist attack
while ensuring that the civil liberties of United States citizens are
safeguarded, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006'.
SEC. 2. TERRORIST SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General- Notwithstanding any provision of the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.),
chapter 119 of title 18, United States Code, or any other provision of
law related to the interception or collection of communications, the
President, through the Attorney General, may authorize a program of
electronic surveillance without a court order for periods of up to 45
days if--
(1) the President determines that the surveillance is
necessary to protect the United States, its citizens, or its interests,
whether inside the United States or outside the United States;
(2) there is probable cause to believe that one party
subject to the surveillance is an agent or member of a group or
organization, affiliated with a group or organization, or working in
support of a group or organization on the list established under
section 3;
(3) the surveillance is initiated and conducted in a
manner reasonably designed to acquire only communications to or from
the United States where--
(A) at least one party to such communications is reasonably believed to be physically located outside the United States; or
(B) such communications appear to originate or terminate outside the United States;
(4) there is not a substantial likelihood that the
surveillance will acquire the substance of any communication where
every party to such communication is physically located within the
United States;
(5) a significant purpose of the surveillance is to obtain foreign intelligence information; and
(6) minimization procedures are in place with respect
to the surveillance which meet the standards for minimization
procedures under section 101(h) of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801(h)).
(1) BASIS- Electronic surveillance carried out pursuant
to the authority in subsection (a) shall not be conducted solely on the
basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the
Constitution of the United States.
(2) TARGETING DECISIONS- The President may rely on
intelligence community professionals to make targeting decisions during
the course of electronic surveillance carried out pursuant to the
authority in subsection (a) based on all lawfully collected information
available to such professionals at the time of such decisions.
(c) Designation of Program- Electronic surveillance carried
out pursuant to the authority in subsection (a) shall be known as the
`Terrorist Surveillance Program'.
(d) Minimization Procedures-
(1) INITIAL PROCEDURES- The Attorney General shall
establish the minimization procedures required by subsection (a)(6) not
later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) UPDATES- The Attorney General shall update the
minimization procedures under this subsection at such times as the
Attorney General considers appropriate, but not less often than
annually.
(e) Support of Surveillance- With respect to any electronic
surveillance authorized by subsection (a), the Attorney General may
direct a specified provider of communication services or common carrier
to--
(1) furnish all information, facilities, or technical
assistance necessary to accomplish the surveillance in such a manner as
will protect its secrecy and produce a minimum of interference with the
services that such carrier is providing its customers; and
(2) maintain under security procedures approved by the
Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence any records
concerning the surveillance or assistance furnished that such carrier
determines to retain.
(1) DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ON UNITED STATES PERSONS-
Information acquired from electronic surveillance conducted pursuant to
this section concerning any United States person may be used or
disclosed by Federal officers or employees without the consent of the
United States person only in accordance with the minimization
procedures required by subsection (a)(6).
(2) USES OF INFORMATION- No information acquired from
electronic surveillance conducted pursuant to this section may be used
or disclosed by Federal officers or employees except for lawful
purposes, including the provision of a factual predicate for an order
for electronic surveillance under section 104 of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1804), dissemination
to appropriate authorities consistent with the minimization procedures
required by subsection (a)(6), and use as evidence in a criminal
proceeding consistent with section 106 of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1806).
SEC. 3. TERRORIST SURVEILLANCE LIST.
(a) In General- The President shall establish and maintain
for purposes of this Act a list of groups and organizations that are
subject to electronic surveillance authorized under the Terrorist
Surveillance Program. The list shall be known as the `Terrorist
Surveillance List'.
(b) Requirements for Listing- A group or organization may
be placed on the list under this section only if the President
determines that there is a reasonable likelihood that the group or
organization, as the case may be--
(1) has engaged in an act of international terrorism
against the United States, its citizens, or its interests, whether
inside the United States or outside the United States;
(2) intends to engage in an act of international
terrorism against the United States, its citizens, or its interests,
whether inside the United States or outside the United States; or
(3) is engaged in activities in preparation for an
actual or potential act of international terrorism against the United
States, its citizens, or its interests, whether inside the United
States or outside the United States.
(c) Updates- The President shall update the list under this
section at such times as the President considers appropriate, but not
less often than annually, including determining whether a group or
organization placed on the Terrorist Surveillance List should be
removed from the list.
SEC. 4. PROGRAM REVIEW AND REAUTHORIZATION.
(a) In General- Not later than 45 days after the
commencement of the Terrorist Surveillance Program and 45 days after
the continuation of the Terrorist Surveillance Program pursuant to a
determination under subsection (b), the Attorney General shall review
the conduct of the program in order to determine the following:
(1) Whether the surveillance under the program met the requirements of section 2(a) during the period covered by the review.
(2) Whether to recommend the continuation of the program for another 45 days.
(b) Continuation of the Terrorist Surveillance Program-
(1) DETERMINATION ON CONTINUATION- Upon completion of
the review of the Terrorist Surveillance Program by the Attorney
General under subsection (a), the President shall determine the
following:
(A) Whether the Terrorist Surveillance Program
remains necessary to protect the United States, its citizens, or
interests, whether inside the United States or outside the United
States.
(B) Whether to continue the Terrorist Surveillance Program.
(2) CONTINUATION- If the President determines under
paragraph (1) to continue the Terrorist Surveillance Program, the
President, through the Attorney General, may continue the program for
an additional period of 45 days, subject to the requirements of section
2(a).
(3) DISCONTINUATION- If the President determines under
paragraph (1) to discontinue the Terrorist Surveillance Program, the
President shall discontinue the program in a prompt manner.
(4) RECOMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAM- At any time after the
discontinuation of the Terrorist Surveillance Program under paragraph
(3), the President may recommence the program or any other program of
electronic surveillance under this Act if the President determines that
the requirements of section 2(a) are met.
(c) Certification- Following completion of any review of a
program of surveillance under this section, the Attorney General shall
certify in writing and under oath, to the congressional intelligence
committees, whether the program of surveillance, during the period
covered by the review, met the requirements of section 2(a).
(d) Review- The Attorney General shall conduct review of
the Terrorist Surveillance Program under this section pursuant to such
procedures as the Attorney General shall establish for purposes of this
section.
SEC. 5. REVIEW OF SURVEILLANCE OF INDIVIDUAL TARGETS.
(a) In General- When conducting a 45-day review under
section 4, the Attorney General shall also review the surveillance of
individual targets within the United States under the program during
the period covered by the review. During such review, the Attorney
General shall determine the following:
(1) Whether the known facts and circumstances relating to any target within the United States--
(A) met the requirements of section 2(a) during the period covered by the review; and
(B) satisfy the criteria for an application under
section 104 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50
U.S.C. 1804) for an order for electronic surveillance of the target
under section 105 of that Act (50 U.S.C. 1805).
(2) Whether to terminate surveillance on the target.
(3) Whether to continue surveillance under section 2(a).
(b) Continued Surveillance Under FISA-
(A) DETERMINATION- If, at any time (including
through a review of electronic surveillance under section 4), the
Attorney General determines that the known facts and circumstances
relating to any target within the United States satisfy the criteria
for an application under section 104 of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978 for an order for electronic surveillance of
the target under section 105 of that Act, the Attorney General, at the
direction of the President, shall--
(i) discontinue the surveillance of the target under section 2(a); or
(ii) continue the surveillance of the target under section 2(a), subject to the requirements of subparagraph (B).
(B) CONTINUATION OF SURVEILLANCE-
(i) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General may
continue surveillance of a target under section 2(a) as specified in
subparagraph (A)(ii) only if the Attorney General makes an application
under section 104 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
for an order for electronic surveillance of the target under section
105 of that Act as soon as practicable after the date on which the
Attorney General makes the determination to continue surveillance of
the target under subparagraph (A)(ii), but in no event later than seven
days after the date of such determination.
(ii) PERIOD- The period during which the
Attorney General may continue surveillance of a target under section
2(a) as specified in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be limited to the
period during which the application of the Attorney General under
section 104 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 for an
order for electronic surveillance of the target under section 105 of
that Act is pending under that Act, including during any period in
which appeal from the denial of the application is pending under the
court of review or the Supreme Court under section 103(b) of that Act
(50 U.S.C. 1803(b)).
(c) Discontinuation of Surveillance- If the Attorney
General determines through a review of electronic surveillance under
this section that the known facts and circumstances relating to any
target within the United States do not meet the requirements of section
2(a) and do not satisfy the criteria for an application under section
104 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C.
1804) for an order for electronic surveillance of the target under
section 105 of that Act (50 U.S.C. 1805), the Attorney General shall
discontinue the surveillance of the target under section 2(a).
(d) Continued Surveillance Under Section 2(a)-
(1) PRESUMPTION- In reviewing the electronic
surveillance of a target in the United States under this section, the
Attorney General shall presume that electronic surveillance of a target
shall be conducted under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of
1978 or be terminated.
(2) REBUTTAL OF PRESUMPTION- The presumption under
paragraph (1) with respect to a target can be rebutted, and the
Attorney General may continue the surveillance of a target under
section 2(a), if--
(A) the Attorney General determines, based on the known facts and circumstances relating to such target, that--
(i) the surveillance of the target during the previous 45-day period satisfied the requirements of section 2(a); and
(ii) there is a good faith belief that
continued surveillance will result in the acquisition of foreign
intelligence information; and
(B) the President determines that continued
surveillance of the target is necessary to protect the United States,
its citizens, or interests, whether inside the United States or outside
the United States.
(e) Certification- If the Attorney General decides to
continue surveillance of a target under section 2(a), not later than 72
hours after the Attorney General conducts the applicable review under
subsection (a), the Attorney General shall certify in writing and under
oath to the terrorist surveillance subcommittees that--
(1) the surveillance of the target during the previous 45-day period satisfied the requirements of section 2(a);
(2) the known facts and circumstances relating to the
target do not satisfy the criteria for an application under section 104
of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 for an order for
electronic surveillance of the target under section 105 of that Act;
(3) the President has determined that continued
surveillance of the target without a court order is necessary to
protect the United States, its citizens, or interests; and
(4) continued surveillance is being undertaken in a
good faith belief that it will result in the acquisition of foreign
intelligence information.
(f) Submitting Certification to FISA Court- Section 104(a)
of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C.
1804(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (10), by striking `and' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(12) if applicable, each certification under section
5(e) of the Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006 relating to the
continued surveillance of the target of the electronic surveillance
that is the subject of the application.'.
SEC. 6. REGULAR AND ONGOING OVERSIGHT BY CONGRESS.
(a) Senate Terrorist Surveillance Subcommittee- The Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate shall designate the creation of
a Subcommittee, in accordance with the Rules of the Senate, with the
exclusive jurisdiction to oversee and monitor all matters relating to
surveillance conducted by the President under the Terrorist
Surveillance Program. The Subcommittee shall be authorized to employ
staff members, as needed, with the technical and subject matter
expertise necessary to assist the Subcommittee in conducting regular,
ongoing oversight of any surveillance conducted by the President under
the Terrorist Surveillance Program. The staff members shall work
exclusively for, and report exclusively to, the Subcommittee.
(b) House Terrorist Surveillance Subcommittee- The
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives shall designate the creation of a Subcommittee, in
accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives, with the
exclusive jurisdiction to oversee and monitor all matters relating to
surveillance conducted by the President under the Terrorist
Surveillance Program. The Subcommittee shall be authorized to employ
staff members, as needed, with the technical and subject matter
expertise necessary to assist the Subcommittee in conducting regular,
ongoing oversight of any surveillance conducted by the President under
the Terrorist Surveillance Program. The staff members shall work
exclusively for, and report exclusively to, the Subcommittee.
(c) Submittals to Full Intelligence Committees-
(1) TERRORIST SURVEILLANCE LIST-
(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 60 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
President shall submit to the congressional leadership and the
congressional intelligence committees a current version of the list
established under section 3.
(B) UPDATES- Not later than 72 hours after any
update or modification of the list established under section 3, the
President shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a
current version of the list, showing such update or modification.
(A) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall submit
to the congressional intelligence committees the review procedures
established under section 4(d).
(B) UPDATES- Not later than 72 hours after any
update or modification of the review procedures established under
section 4(d), the Attorney General shall submit to the congressional
intelligence committees a current version of the procedures, showing
such update or modification.
(3) NOTICE OF SURVEILLANCE- Not later than 72 hours
after the commencement of a program of electronic surveillance under
section 2(a) or the continuation, discontinuation, or recommencement of
a program of electronic surveillance under section 2(a), the President
shall provide notice of such action to the congressional intelligence
committees.
(4) MINIMIZATION PROCEDURES-
(A) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall submit
to the congressional intelligence committees the minimization
procedures established under section 2(d).
(B) UPDATES- Not later than 72 hours after any
update to or modification of the minimization procedures established
under section 2(d), the Attorney General shall submit to the
congressional intelligence committees the updated or modified version
of the minimization procedures.
(5) FORM OF SUBMITTALS- Any matter submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in classified form.
(d) Submittals to Subcommittees-
(1) IN GENERAL- The President shall submit to the
terrorist surveillance subcommittees a report on the management and
operational details of the Terrorist Surveillance Program generally and
on any specific surveillance conducted under the Terrorist Surveillance
Program whenever requested by either of the terrorist surveillance
subcommittees.
(A) IN GENERAL- In addition to any reports required
under paragraph (1), the President shall, not later than 6 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act and every 6 months thereafter,
fully inform the terrorist surveillance subcommittees on all electronic
surveillance conducted under the Terrorist Surveillance Program.
(B) CONTENTS- Each report under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
(i) A complete discussion of the management,
operational details, effectiveness, and necessity of the Terrorist
Surveillance Program generally, and of the management, operational
details, effectiveness, and necessity of all electronic surveillance
conducted under the program, during the six-month period ending on the
date of such report.
(ii) For any target located within the United
States subject to surveillance under the Terrorist Surveillance Program
for more than 45 days--
(I) an explanation why continued
surveillance of the subject is necessary to protect the United States,
its citizens, or interests; and
(II) an explanation why the Attorney
General has not sought an order for the approval of electronic
surveillance of the subject under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
(iii) The total number of targets of electronic
surveillance within the United States during the preceding 6-month
period either commenced or continued under the Terrorist Surveillance
Program.
(iv) The total number of United States persons
targeted for electronic surveillance during the preceding 6-month
period under the Terrorist Surveillance Program.
(v) The total number of targets of electronic
surveillance within the United States during the preceding 6-month
period under the Terrorist Surveillance Program for which, an
application was made under section 104 of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1804) for an order under section
105 of that Act (50 U.S.C. 1805) approving electronic surveillance
under that Act, and, of such applications, the total number either
granted, modified, or denied.
(vi) Any other information specified, in
writing, to be included in such report by either of the terrorist
surveillance subcommittees.
(vii) A description of the nature of the
information sought under the Terrorist Surveillance Program, the types
of communications subjected to such program, and whether the
information sought under such program could be reasonably obtained by
less intrusive investigative techniques in a timely and effective
manner.
(3) FORM OF REPORTS- Any report or information submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in classified form.
(e) Annual Reports by Subcommittees- The terrorist
surveillance subcommittees shall prepare separate annual reports on the
Terrorist Surveillance Program, including the program's effectiveness,
its management, its operational details, and any other matters that the
subcommittees consider appropriate. Each report shall be prepared in a
classified form.
SEC. 7. SUNSET.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act are repealed
effective on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 8. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ON SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS.
(a) Establishment of Offense- Chapter 37 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 798A the
following new section:
`Sec. 798B. Unauthorized disclosure of information on surveillance programs
`(a) In General- Any covered person who intentionally
discloses information identifying or describing, whether in whole or in
part, electronic surveillance authorized by section 2 of the Terrorist
Surveillance Act of 2006, or any other information relating to the
Terrorist Surveillance Program under that Act or any program of
surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
(50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) to any individual not authorized to receive
such information shall be fined not more than $1,000,000, imprisoned
not more than 15 years, or both.
`(b) Definition- In this section, the term `covered person'
means any person authorized to receive information under the Terrorist
Surveillance Act of 2006, or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
of 1978.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 798A the following new item:
`798B. Unauthorized disclosure of information on surveillance programs.'.
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.
(1) the term `congressional intelligence committees' means--
(A) each member of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(B) each member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives;
(2) the term `congressional leadership' means--
(A) the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate;
(3) the terms `international terrorism', `electronic
surveillance', `foreign intelligence information', and `United States
person' have the meaning given such terms in section 101 of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801); and
(4) the term `terrorist surveillance subcommittees'
means the subcommittees of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House
of Representatives created under section 6(a) and (b).
END