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H.R. 7910House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Restrictions on Intelligence Assets in Protests Act

Sponsored by Denny HeckRep. Denny Heck (D-WA)
Introduced July 31, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 2:18 PM UTC

The Restrictions on Intelligence Assets in Protests Act bars the U.S. intelligence community from being used to investigate or surveil people in the United States who are taking part in First Amendment‑protected protests. It also limits federal law‑enforcement agencies from sharing their own resources for such surveillance, unless an exception applies. The bill requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress if any intelligence assets are used in connection with protests, especially those linked to the George Floyd unrest.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits any intelligence‑community employee, equipment, funds, product, or service from being used to support federal, state, or local law‑enforcement investigations or surveillance of protest participants, unless an exception applies.
  • Exceptions include FBI investigations that are not based solely on protected protest activity, National Guard units that include intelligence elements while on active service, and support to the Armed Forces under the Insurrection Act.
  • Bars federal law‑enforcement agencies from providing assets to other agencies for protest‑related surveillance, except for the FBI.
  • If intelligence assets are used under the Insurrection Act, the Director of National Intelligence must notify Congress within one year, describing the assets used.
  • Within one year of the law’s enactment, the Director must submit a report on any intelligence support given to law‑enforcement or National Guard for protests after George Floyd’s death.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee

July 31, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 31, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee

July 31, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 31, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7910

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 31, 2020

Mr. Heck (for himself, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Carson of Indiana, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To prohibit the use of the intelligence community to investigate or conduct surveillance on individuals in the United States who are involved in protest activities protected under the First Amendment, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Restrictions on Intelligence Assets in Protests Act.

2.

Prohibitions on use of certain Federal assets in investigating or conducting surveillance of persons involved in protest activities

(a)

Prohibition on use of intelligence community for certain domestic purposes

(1)

Prohibition

Except as provided by paragraph (2), no asset of the intelligence community may be used to support Federal, State, or local law enforcement in investigating or conducting surveillance of individuals in the United States who are involved in protest activities that are protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

(2)

Exception

The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not apply to any of the following activities conducted by an element of the intelligence community:

(A)

An investigation of an individual by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that is not conducted solely upon the basis of protest activities that are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.

(B)

Members of the National Guard who are—

(i)

assigned to a unit that includes an element of the intelligence community; and

(ii)

performing active service.

(C)

Subject to subsection (c), activities conducted in support of the Armed Forces pursuant to chapter 13 of title 10, United States Code (commonly known as the Insurrection Act).

(b)

Prohibition on use of Federal law enforcement agencies outside scope of agency

(1)

Prohibition

Except as provided by paragraph (2), no asset of any Federal law enforcement agency may be used to support another Federal law enforcement agency or a State or local law enforcement agency in investigating or conducting surveillance of individuals in the United States who are involved in protest activities that are protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution if such support is beyond the mission, scope, or purpose of such Federal law enforcement agency.

(2)

Exception

The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not apply to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(c)

Notification of activities under Insurrection Act

If any asset of the intelligence community is used to support the Armed Forces pursuant to chapter 13 of title 10, United States Code, in investigating or conducting surveillance of individuals in the United States who are involved in protest activities that are protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution, the Director of National Intelligence shall notify Congress of the support by not later than one year after the date on which the support is first provided. Such notification shall include a description of the assets of the intelligence community used to provide the support, including with respect to elements of the intelligence community that are part of the Department of Defense.

(d)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a report detailing the use of any asset of the intelligence community in the United States to support Federal, State, or local law enforcement, or members of the National Guard performing active service, to address the protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and throughout the United States occurring after the death of George Floyd.

(e)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term active service has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

The term asset of the intelligence community means any employee, equipment, funds, product, or service of the intelligence community.

(3)

The term intelligence community has the meaning given that term in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).