Spotlight on Library Legislation - What is the USA FREEDOM Act?

  • The USA FREEDOM Act is the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet Collection, and Online Monitoring Act.
  • The bill numbers are H.R. 3361 and S. 1599.
  • The USA FREEDOM Act was introduced on October 29, 2013 by Sen. Patrick Leahy (Democrat - Vermont) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (Republican - Wisconsin).
  • As noted on Congressman Sensenbrenner's website, the purpose of the USA FREEDOM Act is to "rein in the dragnet collection of data by the National Security Agency (NSA) and other government agencies, increase transparency of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), provide businesses the ability to release information regarding FISA requests, and create an independent constitutional advocate to argue cases before the FISC".
  • Among its many goals, the USA FREEDOM Act would end bulk collection under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which relates to the privacy of library circulation records.
  • For a Section by Section analysis of the USA FREEDOM Act, click here: http://sensenbrenner.house.gov/uploadedfiles/usa_freedom_act__-_section_...
  • To find out how to encourage your Senators and Representatives to support this bill, click here: http://www.districtdispatch.org/2013/11/keep-freedom-act-momentum-going/