Goodlatte, Conyers, Sensenbrenner, Nadler Press Senate to Pass USA Freedom Act

Statement

Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), and Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) issued the following statement urging the Senate to pass the USA Freedom Act of 2015.

"The House of Representatives passed the USA Freedom Act last week by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 338-88. If the Senate rejects the USA Freedom Act, Section 215--and likely the NSA program that some in the Senate are trying to preserve--will expire before we reconvene on the evening of June 1.

"The USA Freedom Act protects Americans' civil liberties and enhances our national security. It ends bulk collection of data, increases transparency, and prevents government overreach. The bill also preserves key intelligence-gathering authorities. Section 215 will remain a valuable counterterrorism tool for the FBI and a targeted call detail records authority will replace the NSA's current, unlawful program.

"If Section 215 is allowed to expire, these tools will simply disappear. The Senate will have blocked reform at great cost to the intelligence community. TheUSA Freedom Act is the only option that does not lead down that path. We once again urge the Senate to take up and pass the USA Freedom Act without delay."