Protect the Nation, Protect the Constitution: Support Amash’s Amendment

Our nation and our Constitution need to be defended. That’s why Rep Justin Amash (R-MI) is trying to amend the Defense Appropriations Bill, and assure that it honors the Constitution. 

There is a new Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2397) coming to a vote in the House. This bill will give taxpayer money to fund US defense programs, including the secret spying programs of the NSA. Representative Justin Amash (R-MI) wants to alter this funding bill so it defends Americans from warrantless NSA spying. For this to happen, House Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has to give Amash’s amendment the “green light” for congress to vote.

Amash’s bill stops all funding to the NSA’s warrantless spying programs. This ensures the NSA will only act once it has a search warrant from a judge. The 4th Amendment to the Constitution says the same thing; there can be no searches without first getting a warrant from a judge. Amash’s amendment honors the Constitution by giving the 4th Amendment teeth, so that the NSA can no longer ignore it. If ever there was an uncontroversial and easy amendment for congressmen to vote on, this would be it!

With everything congress has on its plate, taking a few moments to affirm the Constitution and rein in the overreaches of the NSA represents a few brief- uncontroversial- seconds well spent.  Amash has gathered sizable support for his amendment too, he is not alone. If the amendment doesn’t go to the floor to be voted on, he needs less than 20 of his republican allies in order to keep the Defense Appropriations Bill from getting brought to the floor for a vote! After all, what good is a national defense bill that undermines our Constitution? The Constitution is the one thing that our nation’s defenders are sworn to protect!