Center for Democracy and Technology


105TH CONGRESS

S. 909: The McCain-Kerrey Bill



Sen. Frist Amendments to S.909


Four amendments to S.909 were offered by Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) at the Senate Commerce Committee markup on June 19. All four amendments were approved by the Committee:


Sec. 106, paragraph (4)
Add to the end of this section:

The requirements for a subpoenas should be no less stringent for obtaining keys, then for any other subpoenaed materials.


Sec. 201 Add to the end of this section

NIST after consultation with the Department of Justice and Defense, is directed to publish a reference implementation plan for key recovery systems and mandated by this Act. The reference implementation plan will include the necessary features that will permit the system to function in a fully deployed manner and such action shall be completed no later than one year after date of enactment of this Act. All other section of this title shall not be effective until the President notifies the Congress that such system has been developed and reports to the Congress all findings mandated by this section.


Sec. 205, Strike the existing section and replace with:

Any encrypted communications network established after the date of enactment of this Act with the use of Federal funds for transaction of government business shall use encryption products based upon a qualified system of key recovery.


Add to Definitions

Sec. 1005 Definitions

(20) KEY RECOVERY -- The term key recovery as stated in this legislation shall be interpreted to mean recovery of a variable portion of the key which may range from all (full key recovery) to a prescribed portion (such as all but 40 bits of the key). The percentage of key recovery represents a level of service of the key recovery process.