# 118-hr-7888: Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act

118-hr-7888, Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, is a 118th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15] (R-FL); status became_law (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-7888
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 118-hr-7888
- Congress: 118
- Title: Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2024-04-09
- Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**Tightens FBI Section 702 queries and oversight** by restricting who can run U.S. person searches, increasing audits and reporting, and raising penalties for misuse. It also reshapes Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court rules and requires quick recertification of Section 702 authorities. - Requires prompt reporting to the congressional intelligence and Judiciary committees and to the Member when a Section 702 query identifies a Member of Congress. It also creates consent and notification rules for FBI queries used in defensive briefings. - Limits U.S. person queries to prior supervisory or attorney approval, bans political appointee involvement, mandates written justifications and training, and requires retention of query metadata. It mandates quarterly audits and includes a 2-year sunset for some query restrictions unless internal audits certify compliance. - Bars queries designed solely to extract ordinary criminal evidence and restricts ingestion of unminimized Section 702 content into analytic repositories except for predicated national security investigations or exigent help to other agencies. Agencies must seek new Section 702 orders aligned with the law within 90 days and many application-content rules take effect after 120 days. - Imposes time-bound accountability standards for the FBI with zero tolerance for willful misconduct, annual leadership evaluations, and reporting requirements. It expands criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosures up to 8 years, raises civil-damage floors to at least $10,000 for U.S. persons, and strengthens removal and contempt authorities.

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-04-19T23:45:00.000Z | senate | On Passage of the Bill H.R. 7888 | Bill Passed | 60 | 34 |
| 2024-04-19T20:07:00.000Z | senate | On the Motion to Proceed H.R. 7888 | Motion to Proceed Agreed to | 62 | 30 |
| 2024-04-18T13:02:00.000Z | senate | On the Cloture Motion H.R. 7888 | Cloture Motion Agreed to | 67 | 32 |
| 2024-04-15T00:00:00.000Z | house | Table Motion to Reconsider | Passed | 259 | 128 |
| 2024-04-12T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Passage | Passed | 273 | 147 |

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stricter FBI searches of 702 data: benefit, high. The law tightens FBI searches of Section 702 data. Supervisors or FBI attorneys must approve any search that uses a U.S. person’s name or info, and staff must write down a factual reason. DOJ must audit each U.S.-person query within 180 days. The FBI must add system controls to prevent accidental s…
- More transparency and faster disclosures: benefit, medium. The DNI must alert the intelligence committees within 7 days of any significant unauthorized Section 702 disclosure. FISA court transcripts are stored with the case, committees get notice within 45 days, and the Attorney General must enable committee review within three business days. Declassificat…
- Tougher penalties and bigger damages: benefit, medium. Sharing classified communications from Title VII that include a U.S. person is now a crime, with up to 8 years in prison. Knowingly leaking FISA applications can mean up to 10 years. Lying in FISC matters can mean up to 10 years. Contempt powers now cover the FISA courts. People who win civil cases…
- Limits on storing 702 data, travel checks: mixed, high. The FBI cannot load raw Section 702 data into its analytics systems unless it ties to an open, predicated national security case. In emergencies, the Director may allow it but must notify Congress within three business days. The FBI can also use data when giving technical help to another federal ag…
- New targeting safeguards and 702 renewal: mixed, high. The government must get an individual probable‑cause court order before targeting a U.S. person under Section 702. The law repeals authority to resume “abouts” collection. Within 90 days of enactment, the Attorney General and DNI must obtain new Section 702 orders under the updated rules. Section 7…
- Stronger court rules for FISA requests: mixed, high. Starting 120 days after enactment, applications must include sworn facts and non‑cumulative exculpatory information. Tips from political groups or the press must be clearly identified and corroborated. For U.S. persons, applicants must summarize prior investigative steps and, for some claims, certi…
- Broader scope: drugs and providers: mixed, medium. Foreign intelligence now includes international production, distribution, financing, and precursors tied to synthetic drugs, opioids, and cocaine. More service providers count as electronic communications providers if they can access equipment that sends or stores communications. Homes, hotels, com…

## Related bills

- 118-hr-8012: Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act
- 118-hr-3019: Federal Prison Oversight Act
- 118-hr-1096: 250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act
- 118-hr-5536: Grant Transparency Act of 2023
- 118-hr-5103: FISHES Act
- 118-hr-7438: FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [118-hr-7888 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7888)

## Related
- [118-hr-8012: Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-8012)
- [118-hr-3019: Federal Prison Oversight Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-3019)
- [118-hr-1096: 250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-1096)
- [118-hr-5536: Grant Transparency Act of 2023](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-5536)
- [118-hr-5103: FISHES Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-5103)
- [118-hr-7438: FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-7438)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-hr-7888 (as of 2026-01-05).