This bill would prohibit the federal government from using facial recognition and other biometric surveillance systems without explicit approval from Congress, and would penalize state and local governments that use such technology by making them ineligible for federal law enforcement grants. The legislation defines biometric surveillance broadly to include facial recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition, and emotion inference technologies used in real time or on recordings. Federal agencies violating the ban could face employee discipline or civil lawsuits from individuals harmed by the surveillance, including potential punitive damages and attorney fees. The bill also creates financial leverage by withholding Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants from state and local police departments that engage in biometric surveillance, beginning in the first fiscal year after the law's enactment. The only exception to the federal ban would be if Congress passes a future law that specifically authorizes biometric surveillance with detailed standards for accuracy, data protection, and safeguards against discrimination and privacy violations.