McCollum Responds to President Obama’s NSA Remarks

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) released the following statement in response to remarks made today by President Obama regarding reforms to the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance practices:

“Over the recent months I have been troubled by the near daily media revelations detailing the NSA’s expansive and almost limitless powers to conduct surveillance and mine personal data that threatens civil liberties. Violating the basic civil liberties of Americans and allies around the world must not be tolerated. Limited surveillance is necessary to ensure our nation’s security, which is why I support President Obama’s decision to make needed reforms and temper the worst NSA excesses.

“Today’s proposed reforms are a start but they are not enough. Congress must demand greater oversight of the NSA’s actions and accountability for the billions of taxpayer dollars being spent. The privacy and civil liberties of the American people must never be victimized by the secret powers of the NSA.”

Congresswoman McCollum has been a staunch opponent of bulk collection of citizen data throughout her time in Congress. She is a co-sponsor of both the USA FREEDOM Act (H.R. 3361) and the Surveillance State Repeal Act (H.R. 2818). She has continually voted to end warrantless surveillance of American’s communications records and against reauthorizations of the Patriot Act.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations Committee. She is Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.