Thank you for writing me about an issue on the minds of millions of Americans. Like, you, I stand for the privacy of Americans and, as your representative in Congress, I am fighting to ensure the federal government does not infringe on our constitutionally-protected liberties.

As you know, Congress debated the Department of Defense's annual spending bill (H.R. 2397) in July. During this important debate, I was pleased to support an amendment to the DoD bill that would protect the constitutional rights of Americans. The amendment states clearly and simply that none of the funds may be used by the National Security Agency (NSA) to target a U.S. person or acquire and store the content of a U.S. person's communications, including phone calls and e-mails. The amendment received bipartisan support and was included in the final bill that passed the House on July 24.

During healthy and robust debate, scores of amendments were proposed. The amendment you contacted me about – commonly referred to as the "Amash Amendment" – did not receive majority support and was not included in final passage of the DoD bill. As someone who previously served on the House Intelligence Committee, I stood beside all Republicans and most Democrats currently on that committee who opposed the Amash Amendment. The Amash Amendment would prevent collection of information of foreign terrorists operating in Yemen, Afghanistan, or any other country around the world where Islamist extremists are actively working to harm innocent Americans. While Congressman Amash's legislation was well-intentioned, I believe it was too broad and too blunt, and would eliminate key tools that have stopped more than 50 terrorist attacks since 9/11.

As we have seen, the security program the Amash Amendment sought to gut is an important tool for protecting our national security. This program is overseen by the judicial, legislative, and executive branches. Strict requirements and immense oversight are why the program has received zero privacy violations and has disrupted 54 terrorist plots.

You and I agree Washington must increase oversight and intensify scrutiny to demand surveillance programs remain within the boundaries of the law – ensuring the civil liberties and privacy of Americans are preserved. We can and should debate U.S. intelligence programs and I will continue to work to provide needed oversight on this critical issue this fall in Congress.

Additionally, the President must show us how his Administration is appropriately balancing protection of the American people from terrorism while still maintaining our privacy. And because of scandals like the IRS targeting conservative groups, it is no wonder American trust in its federal government is reaching an all-time low.

Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. I appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Part of the point of people protesting this is that what congress calls oversight is very lax and sloppy and at times, almost nonexistent. The intelligence community pretty much does what they want and lies to Congress about it. And that seems to bother few on Capitol Hill.

No one is ever held accountable, even when the IG uncovers unlawful expansion of secret programs. The gov't has become very good at placing blame on rogue elements within the agency. And then exposing the inevitable coverup becomes costly and nearly impossible b/c of stonewalling and lying to congress. No wonder congress' approval rating is abt 12%.

(08-06-2013 03:47 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  Thank you for writing me about an issue on the minds of millions of Americans. Like, you, I stand for the privacy of Americans and, as your representative in Congress, I am fighting to ensure the federal government does not infringe on our constitutionally-protected liberties.

As you know, Congress debated the Department of Defense's annual spending bill (H.R. 2397) in July. During this important debate, I was pleased to support an amendment to the DoD bill that would protect the constitutional rights of Americans. The amendment states clearly and simply that none of the funds may be used by the National Security Agency (NSA) to target a U.S. person or acquire and store the content of a U.S. person's communications, including phone calls and e-mails. The amendment received bipartisan support and was included in the final bill that passed the House on July 24.

During healthy and robust debate, scores of amendments were proposed. The amendment you contacted me about – commonly referred to as the "Amash Amendment" – did not receive majority support and was not included in final passage of the DoD bill. As someone who previously served on the House Intelligence Committee, I stood beside all Republicans and most Democrats currently on that committee who opposed the Amash Amendment. The Amash Amendment would prevent collection of information of foreign terrorists operating in Yemen, Afghanistan, or any other country around the world where Islamist extremists are actively working to harm innocent Americans. While Congressman Amash's legislation was well-intentioned, I believe it was too broad and too blunt, and would eliminate key tools that have stopped more than 50 terrorist attacks since 9/11.

As we have seen, the security program the Amash Amendment sought to gut is an important tool for protecting our national security. This program is overseen by the judicial, legislative, and executive branches. Strict requirements and immense oversight are why the program has received zero privacy violations and has disrupted 54 terrorist plots.

You and I agree Washington must increase oversight and intensify scrutiny to demand surveillance programs remain within the boundaries of the law – ensuring the civil liberties and privacy of Americans are preserved. We can and should debate U.S. intelligence programs and I will continue to work to provide needed oversight on this critical issue this fall in Congress.

Additionally, the President must show us how his Administration is appropriately balancing protection of the American people from terrorism while still maintaining our privacy. And because of scandals like the IRS targeting conservative groups, it is no wonder American trust in its federal government is reaching an all-time low.

Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. I appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Well, I mean, this is full of lies.

Yea... I've voted for him in the last two elections but not this time.

**** that guy.