Rep. Zoe Lofgren Statement on Voting Against the USA FREEDOM Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee representing part of Silicon Valley, released the following statement today after voting against H.R. 3361, the USA FREEDOM Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives:

"Across the country, many people were surprised to learn that the privacy rights they believed were protected under the 4th Amendment did not apply to NSA surveillance of their communications.

"I originally cosponsored the USA FREEDOM Act when it was introduced last year because it was a small step toward reform and transparency. Unfortunately the bill was changed in key ways after committee action and will no longer provide the protections I sought.

"I voted against it today because it falls short of the Fourth Amendment protections Americans deserve.

"There is strong bipartisan concern that this bill makes it legal for the NSA to continue mass surveillance of U.S. citizens. Many civil liberties groups and leading tech companies share these concerns and felt compelled to withdraw their support.

"Without much needed improvements to the USA FREEDOM Act, Congress risks a continuation of mass surveillance in this extension of the Patriot Act."

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