Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Schiff Statement on Passage of USA Freedom Act – “A Straight Reauthorization is Nonstarter in the House”
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and co-sponsor of the USA Freedom Act, released the following statement:
“Today's passage of the USA Freedom Act with a strong bipartisan vote is an important step forward for efforts to reform our nation’s surveillance programs. I believe that this bill is a big win for both privacy and security, by ending the bulk collection of phone metadata and maintaining the capabilities we need by requiring the government to query the data held by telephone companies on a case by case basis and upon court order. It will also make vital reforms to the FISA Court that introduce an independent advocate on the privacy issues implicated by any novel or constitutional issue raised. The bill is evidence that we need not sacrifice our liberty for security, nor vice versa.
“The overwhelming support for the House measure should show Senate leaders that a straight re-authorization of Section 215 is a nonstarter in the House, and the time to move forward on these vital reforms is now, not after the statutory deadline passes.”
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