Cramer: House Passes USA FREEDOM Act of 2015

Statement

Congressman Kevin Cramer joined a majority of colleagues in the U.S House of Representatives to pass H.R. 2048, the USA Freedom Act of 2015. This bill would reauthorize and reform Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Section 501 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)) along with other provisions of law to prohibit bulk collection of records and to provide the authority to utilize certain surveillance methods. Additionally, it would allow the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to appoint amicus curiae to argue for civil liberties before the court in certain cases.

"The USA Freedom Act strikes the right balance between protecting our country and preserving our constitutional rights. While we should expect certain records to be gathered when terrorism is suspected, I questioned the need for bulk collection of information on American citizens and am encouraged this bill ends that practice. This bill is a positive step forward for personal liberty and privacy," said Cramer.

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