H.R. 8512 is a bill introduced in April 2026 by Representative Clay Higgins. It seeks to extend the government's authority under Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until April 20, 2029. This extension would allow continued surveillance of foreign individuals located outside the United States without a traditional warrant. The bill also proposes additional safeguards, such as requiring attorney approval for certain FBI searches involving American identifiers, imposing criminal penalties for intentional misuse, enhancing congressional access to secret surveillance court proceedings, and mandating a Government Accountability Office audit.
Supporters argue that extending Section 702 is crucial for national security, as it enables the government to monitor foreign threats effectively. The inclusion of additional safeguards is seen as a positive step toward balancing security needs with civil liberties.
Critics express concern that extending surveillance authorities could infringe on privacy rights, particularly if the safeguards are deemed insufficient. There is apprehension about potential misuse of surveillance powers and the adequacy of oversight mechanisms.
Based on the available data, there appears to be no direct conflicts of interest between the sponsor's donors and the bill's subject matter. The bill, H.R. 8512, pertains to the extension of authorities of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. The sponsor, Clay Higgins, does not have any top donors from industries that directly overlap with this bill's subject matter. Furthermore, the lobbying activity related to this bill's policy area does not indicate any potential conflicts of interest. The disclosed lobbying amounts range from $10,000 to $60,000, contributed by various entities such as OSF Healthcare System, Schwan's Company, and Covista, among others. However, these entities do not seem to have a direct stake in the bill's subject matter.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OSF HEALTHCARE SYSTEM | OSF HEALTHCARE SYSTEM | $60,000 |
| COVISTA FKA ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION, INC. | ALPINE GROUP PARTNERS, LLC. | $40,000 |
| NATIONAL SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $30,000 |
| GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTOR ASSOCIATION | 56 CAPITALS LLC | $20,000 |
| GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTOR ASSOCIATION | GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTOR ASSOCIATION | $20,000 |
| SABINE NECHES | KENT CAPERTON CONSULTING | $15,000 |
| SCHWAN'S COMPANY | PEARSON WILCOX ADVOCACY | $10,000 |
| CAPITOL COUNSEL, LLC ON BEHALF OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD FOR AMERICA | MICHAEL R. PAWLOWSKI | undisclosed |
| TRANSGAS | KING STREET SOLUTIONS | undisclosed |
| COUNTY OF MERCED | HB STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
| EXELIXIS, INC. | W STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| BSYD CORPORATION | RYBERG AND SMITH, L.L.C. | undisclosed |
| MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | undisclosed |
| THE DIGITAL CHAMBER (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHAMBER OF DIGITAL COMMERCE) | LIQUID ADVISORS, INC. | undisclosed |
| COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | CASCADE PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Clay Higgins, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
