The Parity in Diplomatic Security Investigations Act would streamline how the State Department approves wiretapping and electronic surveillance conducted by its Diplomatic Security special agents. Currently, these agents must obtain pre-approval from the Secretary of State before intercepting communications during investigations, which Congress says creates unnecessary delays compared to how other federal law enforcement agencies operate. The bill directs the Secretary of State to delegate this approval authority to the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security or the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, allowing faster authorization of critical investigations. The legislation has no specific funding provisions and requires the State Department to update its policy manual within 90 days of enactment. This change would primarily affect State Department Diplomatic Security agents who conduct investigations related to their law enforcement duties.
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