Zoe Lofgren: “I think it is important to know that the Director of National Intelligence has confirmed publicly that the government…”

“I think it is important to know that the Director of National Intelligence has confirmed publicly that the government searches vast amounts of data, including the content of emails and telephone calls, without individualized suspicion or probable cause when it comes to U.S. persons. Last week, the director of the FBI testified under oath, before the Judiciary Committee, that this information is used for prosecution and without a warrant. This amendment is simple. It allows us to get the bad guys, but it also says use probable cause and the Fourth Amendment. It also closes a backdoor to technology holes. The broad support for this, I think, shows why it is important for Mr. Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin; myself; Mr. Conyers of Michigan; Mr. Poe of Texas; Ms. Gabbard; Mr. Jordan of Ohio; Mr. O'Rourke; Mr. Amash; of course, Mr. Massie; Mr. Holt; Mr. Nadler; Mr. Petri; Ms. DelBene; Mr. Farenthold; Mr. Sanford; and Mr. Butterfield--this spans all over this House of Representatives, from right to left, with Members saying: yes, we need to protect our country, but we also need to honor our Constitution and especially the Fourth Amendment. We started this Congress by reading the Constitution of the United States aloud in this Chamber. Let's finish this bill by making sure that we honor that Constitution by adopting this amendment.”