Congressmen Write Landmark Surveillance Reform
Oct 29, 2013 Issues: Defense and National Security
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2013
Congressmen Write Landmark Surveillance Reform
Amash, Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Comprehensive Bill to Rein in NSA Snooping
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) and a
bipartisan coalition of congressmen this morning introduced
comprehensive legislation to rein in the federal government’s
unconstitutional surveillance of Americans.
The USA FREEDOM Act, H.R. 3361, reforms parts of the USA
PATRIOT Act that have been used to surveil Americans’ telephone records
and Internet activity, according to recent leaks. Amash joined Rep.
Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA), and more than 70 cosponsors in the House. Senate Judiciary
Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the companion bill in
the Senate.
“The days of unfettered spying on the American people
are numbered. This is the bill the public has been waiting for. We now
have legislation that ceases the government’s unconstitutional
surveillance. I am confident that Americans and their representatives
will rally behind it,” said Amash. Amash continued, “I am thrilled to join senior
colleagues on the Judiciary Committee such as Subcommittee Chairman
Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers in introducing the bill.
Leading members on the committee of jurisdiction and a diverse group of
more than 70 congressmen have signed on as original cosponsors. We have
strong momentum.”
The comprehensive bill reforms several provisions in the
Patriot Act that reportedly have been used to commit privacy abuses.
First, the bill ends the government’s blanket collection of Americans’
records. Second, it increases the transparency of government
surveillance. It ends the era of secret law by requiring FISA court
opinions to be made available to all congressmen and summaries of the
opinions to be made publicly available. Gag orders on telecommunications
companies are modified so that the companies can make more information
about government surveillance available to customers. Third, the bill
increases privacy protections. It installs a Special Advocate to argue
on behalf of Americans’ privacy before the FISA court, and the Privacy
and Civil Liberties Oversight Board receives subpoena power to perform
its duties.
Introduction of the Freedom Act marks a major
acceleration in the movement to reform government surveillance. The
Amash-Conyers amendment, which was substantively incorporated into the
Freedom Act, failed narrowly on a 205-217 vote in July. Eight of the
Freedom Act’s original cosponsors voted against Amash-Conyers.
Sensenbrenner and Leahy are the primary authors of the Patriot Act,
which the Freedom Act reforms.
CONTACT
Will Adams
(202) 225-3849
will.adams@mail.house.gov
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