What They’re Saying About the #USAFreedomAct

Washington, D.C. – Following the introduction of the USA Freedom Act (H.R. 2048) a broad coalition has expressed support for this legislation. This bipartisan bill – introduced by Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), and Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) – expands upon the protections for civil liberties contained in the bill approved by the House of Representatives last year. It ends bulk collection of data, strengthens protections for civil liberties, increases transparency, and prevents government overreach, while also protecting national security. Here’s some of what folks are saying. The full list of supporters can be found here. BSA | The Software Alliance: “In reforming government surveillance practices, it is critical that legislation strikes the right balance between securing our nation and its citizens and improving privacy protections for the public. The FISA reforms in the USA Freedom Act will help restore trust in both the US government and the US technology sector.” Center for Democracy and Technology: “The USA Freedom Act of 2015 offers an effective path forward in reforming overbroad domestic surveillance and putting an end to the bulk collection of Americans’ communications. With Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act soon to expire, Congress should move quickly to pass this legislation – without weakening it – to protect Americans’ privacy while preserving national security.” Consumer Electronics Association: “The USA Freedom Act balances the right to privacy with the protection of our national security – enacting thoughtful reforms to the government’s intelligence gathering programs and affirming our country’s commitment to transparency and strong national defense.” Facebook: “Facebook supports House Judiciary Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers, and Senators Lee, Leahy, and Heller for introducing and building support for the bipartisan USA Freedom Act. This legislation will prohibit the bulk collection of Internet metadata and increase transparency while continuing to provide the tools necessary to keep America safe.” Google: “Google supports this measure as introduced, the USA Freedom Act of 2015, and we urge Congress to move expeditiously to enact it into law … It is critical that Congress now act to begin to restore consumers’ trust in the Internet.” i2Coalition: “On behalf of the companies – large and small – who build and maintain the nuts and bolts of the Internet, we believe the USA Freedom Act of 2015 takes vital steps forward and we stand ready to continue our work with Congress on additional reforms to promote transparency and ensure the continued competitiveness of US businesses.” Microsoft: “The introduction today of the USA Freedom Act is an important step forward to address continuing concerns about government surveillance. We believe it strikes the right balance between safeguarding personal privacy and public safety.” Niskanen Center: “Americans across the political spectrum have become justifiably alarmed by the government’s overreach in its surveillance and data collection programs. The USA Freedom Act is a dramatic step in the right direction, as it ends bulk collection under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act.” Open Technology Institute: “Passage of the USA Freedom Act of 2015 would represent an important first step in the long process of reining in the NSA’s overreaching surveillance programs.” Reform Government Surveillance, which represents AOL, Apple, Dropbox, Evernote, Facebook, Google, Linkedin, Microsoft, Twitter, and Yahoo: “We support the bicameral, bipartisan legislation, which ends existing bulk collection practices under the USA Patriot Act and increases transparency and accountability while also protecting U.S. national security.  We thank Representatives Goodlatte, Sensenbrenner, Conyers and Nadler and Senators Lee, Leahy, Heller, and Franken, as well as other Members, who have worked hard over the past several months to draft a common sense bill that addresses the concerns of industry, the Intelligence Community, and civil society in a constructive and balanced manner. We look forward to working with Congress to pass this legislation by June 1st.” Software & Information Industry Association: “U.S. technological leadership continues to be challenged worldwide by questions about our current surveillance regime. Surveillance reform is an essential part of restoring international trust in U.S. businesses and ensuring America’s continued economic leadership. SIIA commends Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), John Conyers (D-MI) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) for introducing the USA Freedom Act, and for their commitment to ensuring that needed surveillance programs have safeguards that also provide for necessary privacy, transparency and accountability.” YAHOO!: “We are encouraged by the bipartisan introduction of the USA Freedom Act in both the House and the Senate today. We urge Congress to move forward with passing meaningful reform, like the measures outlined in this legislation.”

Learn more about the USA Freedom Act by clicking here.