House Leaders Want to Keep a Law for Watching Foreign Messages

Apr 24, 2026, 15:10

Introduction

House leaders have a new plan to keep a law called Section 702. This law lets the government watch messages from people in other countries without asking a judge. The law will end on April 30. The leaders want to keep it for three more years. But many people in the government are angry. They say the new plan does not stop the government from watching Americans without permission.

Main Body

The law lets the government collect messages from people in other countries. But sometimes the government also collects messages from Americans. The FBI used this law to watch protesters, people giving money to politicians, and even some members of Congress. Many people think this is wrong. The new plan has seven parts. One part says the FBI must write a letter every month to explain why it watches an American. But the office gets the letters. It has few workers and cannot stop the FBI. Another part says people can go to jail for five years if they break the rules. But experts say it is hard to prove someone broke the rules. Another part says the government must follow the Fourth Amendment. But that is already the law. A leader said this part is a 'trick' to make people think the plan is good. Representative Himes says he supports the plan. He says he has not seen any bad use of the law. But many Democrats and Republicans do not agree. Some people in his district want him to stop being a leader. They say he is helping the government watch Americans without permission. Other leaders say they will vote against the plan. They do not trust the current government.

Conclusion

The plan to keep the law is in trouble. Many people in the government do not like it. The deadline is April 30. Time is short. Representative Himes is trying to get more support, but it is not easy.

Vocabulary Learning

government (n.)
ruling group / the group of people who control a country政府
Example:This law lets the government watch messages from people in other countries.
judge (n.)
court official / a person who decides in a court of law法官
Example:The law lets the government watch messages without asking a judge.
law (n.)
rule / a rule made by a government that people must follow法律
Example:The leaders want to keep a law called Section 702.
messages (n.)
notes or texts / information sent from one person to another, like emails or texts訊息；信息
Example:The law lets the government collect messages from people in other countries.
plan (n.)
idea / an idea for doing something in the future計劃
Example:House leaders have a new plan to keep a law called Section 702.

Sentence Learning

The law will end on April 30.
Time Marker: The phrase 'on April 30' tells us when the law will end. It is a prepositional phrase showing time.片語『on April 30』告訴我們法律何時終止。這是一個表示時間的介詞片語。
But many people in the government are angry.
Contrast Connector: The word 'But' connects two ideas and shows a contrast. The phrase 'in the government' tells us where the people are.單詞『But』連接兩個想法並顯示對比。片語『in the government』告訴我們這些人在哪裡。
The FBI used this law to watch protesters, people giving money to politicians, and even some members of Congress.
Connector: The word 'and' connects three items in a list. It shows addition.單詞『and』連接列表中的三個項目。它表示添加。
Another part says people can go to jail for five years if they break the rules.
Conditional Connector: The word 'if' introduces a condition. It shows that something happens only when the condition is true.單詞『if』引入一個條件。它表示只有當條件為真時某事才會發生。
Some people in his district want him to stop being a leader.
Prepositional Phrase: The phrase 'in his district' tells us where the people are. It is a prepositional phrase giving location.片語『in his district』告訴我們這些人在哪裡。這是一個表示地點的介詞片語。