Langevin Supports Intelligence Gathering Reforms

Press Release

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), voted in favor today of the USA FREEDOM Act, which will enact significant reforms to the nation's surveillance practices. The House passed the USA FREEDOM Act by a vote of 303 to 121.

"Changes to our national security programs should not be taken lightly, and this compromise is the result of vigorous debate and careful consideration," Langevin said today during consideration of the bill. "Many of my constituents have expressed concerns about the sanctity of their civil liberties, and I believe that the USA FREEDOM Act strikes the delicate balance between preserving that privacy while still protecting our national security."

The USA FREEDOM Act contains many similar provisions to those in the FISA Transparency and Modernization Act of 2014, an intelligence reform bill that Langevin co-sponsored in March. Both bills move to end the National Security Agency's bulk collection of Americans' telephone call records, and codify a ban on any attempt to collect bulk e-mail and Internet metadata.

Langevin is particularly pleased that the USA FREEDOM Act would allow for the appointment of independent advocates to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a similar provision to one he authored in the FISA Transparency and Modernization Act. The advocates would have legal or technical expertise in fields such as privacy and civil liberties, intelligence collection, telecommunications, or any other area of law necessary to ensure that there are independent checks on government surveillance within the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court's process.

"Appointing an independent advocate to the Court adds another layer of transparency and accountability, ensuring that intelligence gathering programs do not overstep their bounds or infringe upon the privacy of regular Americans," Langevin continued. "This has been an important public discussion, and I believe that the USA FREEDOM Act is in the best interest of our nation, our people and our national security."

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