Rep. Young Statement on Expiration of Intelligence Gathering Provisions

Statement

Rep. Todd Young (R-IN9), a former intelligence officer in the Marine Corps, issued the following statement Monday morning after Senate inaction caused several intelligence gathering provisions to expire:

"At midnight, several intelligence gathering provisions that have been crucial to preventing another 9/11-type attack expired. Though couched in the language of protecting civil liberties, they expired because some Senators would rather recklessly seek political gain than to act responsibly to keep our country safe. The fact of the matter is the bill passed overwhelmingly by the House weeks ago addresses the civil liberty concerns--concerns I share--in a manner that still allows for the collection of vital intelligence."

"Ironically, it is always in the moments immediately following a national security event that the civil liberties of the American people are most at risk. Should the unthinkable happen during this lapse in authorization, I suspect we'll find the supposed choice between security or liberty to be a false dichotomy. The House-passed USA Freedom Act is proof that such interests can be balanced, and I urge responsible legislators to quickly work to pass it through the Senate."--Rep. Todd Young

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