The House rejected a controversial proposal to prohibit warrantless surveillance searches by the federal government, dealing a blow to hardline conservatives who pushed to have the proposal included in the broader national surveillance law that is set to expire next week.
The amendment narrowly failed in a 212-212 vote on Friday, falling short of the majority threshold needed to include it in the surveillance law. The vote is a loss for hard-right lawmakers who fought to have the amendment in the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, threatening to shoot down the surveillance law altogether if it was not included.
The narrow vote came down to the wire on Friday, with members scrambling on the floor to ensure their votes were counted. Shortly before the vote was passed, lawmakers were seen yelling on the floor
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