National Security Letter Reform Act of 2007

A bill to place reasonable limitations on the use of National Security Letters, and for other purposes.

9/25/2007--Introduced.
National Security Letter Reform Act of 2007 or the NSL Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code, the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act to establish new criteria for the use of National Security Letters issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to wire or electronic communications service providers, financial institutions, and consumer credit reporting agencies for the production of specified records and information about customers or subscribers. Allows the issuance of a National Security Letter only where:
(1) the records sought relate to an ongoing, authorized and specifically identified national security investigation (other than a threat assessment); and
(2) there are specific and articulable facts for believing that such records pertain to a suspected agent of a foreign power and such agent's activities. Requires the Attorney General to establish minimization and destruction procedures for the disclosure and disposal of information and records received by the FBI in response to a National Security Letter.
Revises criteria for judicial review of nondisclosure orders applicable to recipients of National Security Letters.
Amends the USA Patriot Act to require expanded public disclosure of the number and types of National Security Letter requests for information. Terminates as of December 31, 2009, certain authorities for issuing National Security Letters. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to revise procedures for, and judicial review of, access to business records in national security investigations.
Directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a secure electronic system for the submission of documents and other information to courts established under FISA.
Expands protections for communications service providers, financial institutions, and consumer reporting agencies that disclose subscriber or customer identifying information to a government authority when such entity reasonably believes that an emergency involving immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires disclosure without delay. Requires the Attorney General to issue guidelines for using the least intrusive means of collecting sensitive information in national security investigations.


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Sponsor

• Sen. Russell Feingold [D, WI]
• and 11 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D, NM]
  • Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
  • Charles Hagel
  • Sen. Edward Kennedy [D, MA]
  • Sen. Robert Menéndez [D, NJ]
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R, AK]
  • Barack Obama
  • Sen. Ken Salazar [D, CO]
  • Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT]
  • John Sununu
  • Sen. Jon Tester [D, MT]
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Committees

• Senate Judiciary

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.2088

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
September 25, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Apr 23, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
• Sep 25, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12056-12057)
• Sep 25, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• Introduced on Sep 25, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.3189

Related Issue Areas:

• Intelligence activities
• Administrative procedure
• Bank records
• Business
• 24 more
• Business records
• Civil liberties
• Courts of special jurisdiction
• Credit bureaus
• Criminal investigation
• Criminal justice
• Data banks
• Department of Justice
• Executive departments
• Finance
• Foreign agents
• Foreign policy
• Government information
• Government publicity
• Judicial review
• Law
• Liability (Law)
• Right of privacy
• Standards
• Subpoena
• Technology
• Telecommunication
• Telecommunication industry
• Consumer credit

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

May 07, 2008 FBI Withdraws Unconstitutional National Security Letter After ACLU ...

Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) introduced a Senate bill of the same name (S. 2088). Both bills are aimed at narrowing the statute by enacting limits on ...

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Source: ACLU (press release), NY

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Blog Coverage

November 20, 2008 Rescue The State | Furious Divide

In 1967, Senator Robert F. Kennedy introduced S. 2088, the ‘Urban Employment Opportunities Development Act’, which provided for federal tax credits, accelerated depreciation schedules and job-training programs in areas marked for a lack ...

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Source: Furious Divide

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November 13, 2008 The Multiracial Activist - www.multiracial.com - TMA Newsletter 27

National Security Letters Reform Act, S. 2088 Coalition Letter Signed by TMA http://multiracial.com/site/content/view/1603/49/ (April 22, 2008) National Security Letters Reform Act, H.R. 3189 Coalition Letter Signed by TMA ...

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Source: The Multiracial Activist

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August 11, 2008 ACLU Blog: Because Freedom Can’t Blog Itself: Official Blog of the ...

Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) to narrow the scope of the FBI’s NSL authority. The ACLU supports both S. 2088 and H.R. 3189, and we’re hoping both bills will move through Congress this fall, when the IG’s next report on the FBI is due. ...

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Source: ACLU Blog: Because Freedom Can't Blog Itself:...

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