This week on The Hill: Lawmakers head into ‘hell week’ with FISA and reconciliation 2.0

The House is heading into a high-stakes week, as lawmakers juggle a budget blueprint for a second reconciliation bill alongside a measure to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) warrantless surveillance powers — all before departing for recess next week. 

Most pressing on the agenda is an extension of Section 702 of FISA, which allows the government to spy on foreigners abroad without a warrant. The section expires Thursday, giving Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) limited time to rally Republicans around a deal.

Johnson last week released a new proposal that would renew Section 702 for three years. However, it doesn’t include a warrant requirement, for which privacy-minded conservatives and House Freedom Caucus members have been clamoring.

Also on Republicans’ agenda is advancing a budget blueprint for a reconciliation bill that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol as a path forward to end the record-breaking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.

House Republicans have been divided on whether they want a “skinny” reconciliation bill — which Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is pushing for — or a more expansive package loaded with additional reforms, a route that could complicate passage and risk dragging out the shutdown, which has already stretched for more than two months.

This week “is going to be hell week,” Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) told reporters.

What you can expect this week:

FISA clock ticking: The deadline to renew Section 702 of FISA is days away, as Johnson aims to win over hard-line conservatives who have been the sticking point to this extension.

Reconciliation talks heat up: The size of a second reconciliation bill has divided House Republicans, complicating matters for Johnson.

King Charles III comes to Capitol Hill: King Charles III is expected to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.

GOP divided over farm bill: It is unclear whether GOP leaders have enough support for the farm bill to pass, as some Republicans have been unsatisfied with certain provisions in the legislation.

FISA deadline looms as Johnson scrambles to find support

The proposal unveiled by GOP leadership last week to extend Section 702 for three years is likely to draw pushback from hard-line conservatives, complicating matters for Johnson, who needs near-unanimous support on a procedural rule vote to advance the measure.

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a Freedom Caucus member who sits on the powerful House Rules Committee, said last week that the........

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