Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), concerned about the National Security Agency's surveillance program, has cosponsored H.R. 2761, the Presidential Appointment of FISA Court Judges Act.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court oversees surveillance warrant requests by intelligence agencies including the NSA and the FBI. Currently, only the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court makes the appointments of judges to the Court. It is important to involve other branches of government in the appointment process to maintain checks and balances between branches, and increase oversight of this secretive court. Therefore, this bill would require both Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation of judges to the FISA. With the recent discoveries that the court has secretly approved far-reaching and privacy-invasive surveillance warrants, this bill will bring more light to this judicial process.

To read more about H.R. 2761, click here.