Ayotte Statement on Passage of USA Freedom Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte today voted in support of the USA Freedom Act, which passed the Senate by a vote of 67 to 32. The bill renews counterterrorism authorities and ends the National Security Agency's bulk phone metadata collection program.

"I continue to have concerns with the USA Freedom Act, and I voted in support of several amendments that would have improved the bill and addressed these concerns. I'm disappointed the Senate did not adopt these amendments, and I hope that as the law is implemented, Congress and the administration will address these problems as necessary to ensure we do not undermine our national security. With no other alternative to reauthorize these counterterrorism tools, I voted in support of this bill to ensure continuity of critical intelligence capabilities that help protect Americans and prevent terrorist attacks."

Ayotte previously voted for a short-term extension of current law in order to allow Congress to address concerns that the USA Freedom Act lacks a requirement for telecom companies to properly preserve the metadata, does not allow a sufficient transition period for ending the bulk phone metadata collection program, and relies on insufficiently vetted private contractors to search the metadata, which could put Americans' privacy at increased risk. During consideration of the bill earlier today, she voted in support of several amendments that would have addressed these concerns with the bill, but the amendments failed to pass.

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