House to Allow Vote on Lofgren-Davidson Amendment to USA Freedom Reauth
House leaders reached a deal over the long weekend to allow a vote on an amendment to the Senate-passed version of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA Freedom) Reauthorization Act. HR-6172…
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from Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, would bar law enforcement agencies from reading Americans’ internet browsing history without a warrant. The House Rules Committee is expected to meet Wednesday to set plans for debating and voting on HR-6172 and the amendment. A floor vote is expected Thursday. The Senate amended HR-6172 earlier this month with language to provide some additional oversight of Foreign intelligence Surveillance Act surveillance programs but not the text from Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., preferred by some privacy advocates (see 2005140061). Lofgren hailed House leaders for agreeing to hold a vote on her HR-6172 amendment, which is similar to the Wyden-Daines proposal. “Without this prohibition, intelligence officials can potentially have access to information such as our personal health, religious practices, and political views without a warrant,” Lofgren said Tuesday. She touted the support of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif. His office didn’t comment. Free Press Action Government Relations Director Sandra Fulton said that "passing the bill with this amendment in it would be a tremendous milestone in curbing abuses under the Patriot Act and other surveillance authorities." The House “should overwhelmingly support the Lofgren-Davidson amendment and bring home this meaningful privacy protection for their constituents,” said Demand Progress Senior Policy Counsel Sean Vitka.