勛圖眻畦 Comment Ahead of USA Freedom Act House Vote
House Rules Committee Bars Consideration of Amendments to Bill on NSA Spying
WASHINGTON The House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the USA Freedom Act, a bill that would amend the Patriot Acts Section 215. That provision, which the National Security Agency relies on for its phone records collection program, is scheduled to expire on June 1.
Last Thursday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the program as illegal, ruling that Section 215 could not be read to authorize the bulk surveillance. The 勛圖眻畦 does not formally support or oppose the USA Freedom Act but is calling for significant changes.
Michael Macleod-Ball, acting director of the 勛圖眻畦s Washington Legislative Office, had this comment:
Last weeks historic court decision makes clear that this bill must be strengthened to protect privacy rights. Following the courts ruling, the House should have amended the bill to prevent the government from amassing and keeping the information of innocent Americans. The Senate should not make the same mistake and instead remedy the bills many deficiencies, which have been criticized on both sides of the aisle.
Letting Section 215 expire would be preferable to passing the current version of this bill, which fails to adequately protect Americans information from unwarranted government intrusion.
A letter sent today to members of Congress from the 勛圖眻畦 listing recommended changes to the bill is at:
/letter/aclu-letter-house-members-regarding-usa-freedom-act