Statement on Vote Against Amash Amendment and in Favor of Nugent Amendment to H.R. 2397

Statement

"In the United States, we live in a free and open society. This freedom delivers broad civil liberties but demands vigilance against those who would do us harm. I opposed the Amash Amendment to H.R. 2397 because it would hastily dismantle an important counterterrorism tool that protects our nation. A rushed or reckless overhaul is not the answer. As elected leaders, we have a responsibility to balance individual privacy and national security in a careful, strategic manner. Moving forward, I will be reviewing legislative proposals and pushing for an effective, transparent process that requires the National Security Agency to use due process in its efforts to protect American citizens. We can get this done by working with both sides of the aisle and with the House Intelligence Committee.

"I supported the Nugent Amendment because it ensured that no funds may be used by the NSA to target our citizens or to acquire and store the content of their communications such as e-mails or phone records. This is a smart, interim solution as we work on ways to improve the NSA's accountability while ensuring its ability to protect the United States from harm."

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