Letter in Support of the LIBERT-E Act

Dear FreedomWorks member,

As one of our millions of FreedomWorks members nationwide, I urge you to contact your representative and urge him or her to cosponsor H.R. 2399, the Limiting Internet and Blanket Electronic Review of Telecommunications and Email Act (LIBERT-E Act). Introduced by Reps. Justin Amash (R-MI) and John Conyers (D-MI), the bill would restrict the federal government’s ability under the Patriot Act to collect information on Americans who are not connected to any ongoing investigations. The bill would also make Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court opinions available to Congress and the public to increase transparency and accountability.

The LIBERT-E Act is urgent and necessary to stop the growing surveillance state. As we learned over the past few weeks, the National Security Administration (NSA) has been secretly collecting phone records of millions of innocent Americans. It is unconstitutional for the government to spy on Americans without a warrant or any reasonable suspicion that they are committing any crimes. This is a direct violation of the 4th Amendment which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. This bill would prevent the federal government from infringing on our right to privacy on the phone and Internet.  

The court that oversees the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that prescribes procedures for surveillance is top secret. Secret court orders are antithetical to a free society. Under the LIBERT-E Act, congressmen would have access to court opinions and the public can read the summaries of the opinions. The FISA court should be open and accountable to the people. Congress and the public must be allowed access to court orders to discuss security and privacy concerns.

The bipartisan LIBERT-E Act would protect our constitutional rights and increase government transparency. I urge you to contact your representative and urge him or her to cosponsor H.R. 2399, the Limiting Internet and Blanket Electronic Review of Telecommunications and Email Act today.  

Sincerely, 

Matt Kibbe
President and CEO 
FreedomWorks
[Click here for a PDF version of this letter.]