House Intelligence Committee approves bill to end bulk collection of metadata

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on May 8 advanced H.R. 3361, the USA Freedom Act, to the House floor on a voice vote.

Similar to the FISA Transparency and Modernization Act introduced by Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Ranking Member “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD) last March, the amended USA Freedom Act ends the bulk collection of telephone metadata, while preserving an important counterterrorism tool.

Reps. Rogers and Ruppersberger ssaid, “Enhancing privacy and civil liberties while protecting the operational capability of a critical counterterrorism tool, not pride of authorship, has always been our first and last priority. We are pleased the House Judiciary Committee reached a compromise that garnered strong, bipartisan support. We look forward to working with the Judiciary Committee, House and Senate leadership, and the White House to address outstanding operational concerns and enact the USA Freedom Act into law this year.”