Griffin Takes Action to Protect Americans' Privacy and Civil Liberties

Press Release

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) issued the following statement today after voting to support the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet Collection, and Online Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act (H.R. 3361):

"While I fully support the intelligence professionals who work tirelessly to track threats and keep Americans safe, we must ensure Americans' privacy and civil liberties are protected and preserved. Federal government overreach in its surveillance of innocent American citizens is a violation of the Fourth Amendment and is unacceptable. I will keep working to stop abuse of the Patriot Act. Although today's bill includes compromises with the intelligence community to maintain our national security, I continue to support its goal to provide greater transparency and accountability to government security practices."

Rep. Griffin is an original cosponsor of H.R. 3361, the USA FREEDOM Act, which passed the House by a vote of 303-121.

The USA FREEDOM Act, introduced by Patriot Act co-author Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05):

Prohibits the bulk collection of all records under the Patriot Act, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) trap and trace and National Security Letters (NSL)

Requires the federal government to now use "specific selection terms" to prevent bulk collection while preserving traditional intelligence authorities

Ensures Americans' phone records stay with providers instead of the government and that records not containing foreign intelligence are destroyed

Implements minimization procedures to prevent innocent Americans' records from being gathered

Creates a panel of five experts to help ensure that the FISA Court considers privacy concerns

Expands existing reporting requirements under FISA

Requires new reviews and public disclosure of FISA orders

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

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