Goodlatte to President: Our Intelligence System Must Protect Civil Liberties

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and other Members of the House of Representatives and Senate today met with President Barack Obama to discuss our nation’s surveillance programs. Chairman Goodlatte released the following statement reacting to today’s meeting.

Chairman Goodlatte: “Today I joined several Members of the House and Senate in having a frank conversation with President Obama regarding the National Security Agency’s (NSA) intelligence-gathering programs.

“Since Edward Snowden disclosed classified material on top-secret NSA data collection programs, legitimate concerns and questions have been raised about these programs, including whether there are sufficient protections for Americans' civil liberties and privacy, whether there is adequate oversight and transparency of the programs and whether the costs of the programs are justified. I share these concerns and am committed to thoroughly reviewing these programs, getting answers to these questions and finding ways to bolster the protection of our civil liberties.

“As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over these matters, I convened an oversight hearing to examine the statutory authorities that govern certain programs operated under FISA. Among our witnesses, the Committee heard from officials from the Department of Justice, the NSA, the FBI, and from civil rights groups including the ACLU about balancing intelligence gathering for national security purposes with upholding our civil rights. The Committee plans to conduct additional oversight, including a classified hearing likely in September, so that we can thoroughly review the data collection programs used by the NSA, ensure that the laws we have enacted are executed in a manner that complies with the law and that protects Americans’ civil liberties, and determine if changes to current law are necessary.

“At today’s meeting, I stressed to the President that Congress must ensure that the laws we have enacted are executed in a manner that is consistent with congressional intent and that protects both our national security and our civil liberties. We must ensure that America’s intelligence gathering system has the trust of the American people.”