Breaking: Senate Passes NSA Reform Measure, Requires Warrant to Collect Metadata
The Senate has just approved a bill restoring Patriot Act provisions that lapsed on Monday. The USA Freedom Act now requires the government to obtain a targeted warrant to collect metadata — a big step in the right direction.
Washington (CNN) - The Senate approved on Tuesday a bill to reform National Security Agency domestic surveillance programs, ending a drawn-out showdown on Capitol Hill that saw counterterrorism provisions expire.
The vote was 67 to 32.
The bill, which passed the House nearly three weeks ago, now heads to President Barack Obama, who has pledged to sign the bill.
His signature will ultimately end the government’s indiscriminate collection of millions of Americans’ phone metadata, requiring the government obtain a targeted warrant to access the data instead.
“It’s historical. It’s the first major overhaul of government surveillance in decades,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, the top Democratic sponsor of the reform measure called the USA Freedom Act.
Glad the Senate finally passed the USA Freedom Act. It protects civil liberties and our national security. I’ll sign it as soon as I get it.
— President Obama (@POTUS) June 2, 2015