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Lofgren Statement on Omnibus Appropriations Bill

December 18, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) issued the following statement today after voting against the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act:

"I was unable to vote for the Omnibus spending bill today because it included an extraneous provision purported to facilitate cybersecurity information sharing that – in effect – will function as a surveillance tool.

"Congress has debated cybersecurity for the past year. I voted for a bill passed by the House that addressed cybersecurity while also protecting the private digital information of Americans. This bill received substantially more support than any other cybersecurity bill considered by either chamber.

"Information sharing requires measures to protect Americans' privacy. It should also be debated in regular order. But this so-called "cybersecurity legislation" was inserted into a must-pass Omnibus at the 11th hour, without debate. The protective measures that such a bill should have – including those I believe the Constitution requires – were removed. While the Omnibus had both pros and cons, my obligation to protect constitutional rights isn't negotiable. I made clear to House Leadership and the White House that I could not support the Omnibus with this cyber surveillance measure included. I have enclosed several letters crafted in the last two days outlining my concerns related to the bill."

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