Schakowsky Strongly Supports Passage of the USA Freedom Act from the House Intelligence Committee

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Intelligence Committee unanimously passed the USA Freedom Act, a bill that would ban the bulk collection of records, including phone records and e-mails, while also implementing several other critical civil liberty reforms. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Ranking Member of the Intelligence Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, released the following statement about the Committee’s action:

“I am very pleased with the actions taken this week by the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees to pass the USA Freedom Act. It was clear that our nation’s bulk collection activities did not strike the proper balance of preserving our national security and giving Americans confidence that their civil liberties were protected.

The USA Freedom Act prohibits bulk collection of data and requires prior judicial approval for collection of sensitive information. The bill also establishes enhanced oversight and transparency mechanisms. Each of these provisions is good news for the American people.”

As a longtime member of the Intelligence Committee, I continually work to balance the need to protect our country while also protecting our civil liberties. This legislation will help achieve that balance and restore the trust of the American people.”

“I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to move this bill to the House floor for a final vote.”