Last week we learned more about the egregious and frightening abuses by the National Security Agency in their collection and retention of private data over the years. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of intelligence collection, I believe we can all agree that blanket surveillance authority to collect data on American citizens is wrong. These actions fly in the face of the very freedom our country was founded upon.
Our rights are not negotiable, and our Constitution should not be treated as optional. We need to reform our laws to ensure that we are keeping our country safe as well as providing the oversight needed to prevent the abuses we’ve seen. I’m a proud cosponsor of the LIBERT-E Act, legislation that limits the Patriot Act’s collection authority and requires the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court’s opinions to be more transparent. Additionally, I supported the Amash-Conyers amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill that did the same.
I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and I take that oath very seriously. How can we, as the law-making body, enact just laws if their interpretation is a secret? How can we ensure that the Constitution is being upheld? Secret laws are the enemy of liberty, and I will continue to support legislation that ends this broad authority. I’ve heard from folks all across the district on this issue, and look forward to hearing from more of you in various town halls and events. Together, we must continue to stay engaged on these policies. Our liberty is too important to be political.
Ted Yoho represents Florida’s 3rd District in Congress which includes parts of Lake and Marion counties.
