Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
Description
This bill would reauthorize foreign intelligence surveillance through 2029 and prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing digital currency.
Summary
What it does
This bill would reauthorize foreign intelligence surveillance authorities through April 2029 while implementing new restrictions on the FBI's ability to search for information regarding U.S. persons. It proposes criminal penalties for the misuse of querying procedures and requires that only certain attorneys, rather than supervisors, approve such searches. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency or providing financial services directly to individuals.
Who is affected
This bill affects federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors. It impacts FBI personnel and attorneys who conduct or approve surveillance queries, as well as individuals who would otherwise use financial products or services directly from a Federal Reserve bank. Additionally, the legislation affects non-U.S. persons located outside the United States and U.S. persons whose communications may be subject to surveillance or queries under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Key provisions
- Reauthorization of FISA Title VII. The bill extends the authority for Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through April 30, 2029.
- Restrictions on Central Bank Digital Currencies. Federal Reserve banks are prohibited from offering financial products directly to individuals or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Additionally, the Board of Governors is barred from using a CBDC for monetary policy or conducting related testing and implementation.
- Enhanced Oversight of FBI Intelligence Queries. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence must conduct monthly reviews of FBI queries involving U.S. persons and refer non-compliant searches or privacy abuses to the Inspector General. Approval authority for these queries is restricted to specific FBI attorneys rather than supervisors.
- Criminal Penalties for Query Violations. The legislation establishes criminal penalties for individuals who willfully falsify compliance records or for FBI personnel who knowingly violate procedures regarding U.S. person queries.
Fiscal impact
- S. 1318, Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act· As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on July 30, 2025
Effective dates
The bill reauthorizes Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through April 30, 2029.
Relationship to existing law
This bill reauthorizes Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through April 30, 2029, and modifies Section 702 of the Act by establishing new oversight, approval, and penalty procedures for queries involving U.S. persons. Additionally, it places new restrictions on the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors and Federal Reserve banks regarding the issuance and use of central bank digital currencies.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to reauthorize and reform foreign intelligence surveillance authorities by extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and establishing stricter oversight and criminal penalties for queries involving U.S. persons. Additionally, it seeks to restrict the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency or providing direct financial services to individuals.