Press Releases

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after the USA Freedom Act was introduced:

“The introduction today of a revised version of the USA FREEDOM Act is an important milestone in the road to reform of our surveillance programs. The bill would put an end to bulk collection, while ensuring we have the capabilities we need to track and disrupt terrorist plots. As I have advocated for years, the bill would end the bulk telephone metadata program in favor of querying records retained by phone companies on a case by case basis, subject to court approval. It would also include several other vital reforms that I have championed, including establishing a set of outside experts to advocate for privacy before the FISA Court, requiring a declassification review of significant FISA Court decisions, and greatly expanding public reporting on the use of surveillance authorities.

“With a mere 11 legislative days until Section 215 expires, a result which would forfeit a vital chance to reform our surveillance authorities and throw properly targeted programs into chaos, Congress must move quickly to pass this bill. I look forward to working closely with the sponsors in the Judiciary Committee as the bill proceeds, and I will urge that we move forward with these reforms before the clock runs out.”

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