Our freedoms are at risk.
Just last Thursday, the House voted through a renewal of PATRIOT Act surveillance powers with minimal reforms, without allowing amendments, without regular committee process, and with only 60 minutes of debate. Our analysis is here.
Today, at 5:30pm, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will hold a vote, hoping to get 60 Senators to agree to close debate on the same Act. But together with our allies in the Senate, he's under heavy pressure, and he may not get there. Your call now to 202-224-3121 may make the difference to a wavering Senator, and will pile the pressure on.
If Sen. McConnell loses this vote, he will have to allow proper amendments and discussion. Please help make this happen.
Below is Restore The Fourth's statement being circulated to Senators.
May the Fourth be with you all!
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"Restore The Fourth strongly opposes cloture on the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act. As Reps. Davidson (R-OH) and Lofgren (D-CA) have observed in their letter to the Senate, it was unacceptable for House leaders to have brought this bill up outside of the regular committee process and with no opportunities for amendment. Senator Burr shockingly claimed, on Thursday, on the Senate floor, that President Trump “can do all of this [surveillance], without Congress’s permission;” a horrifying reassertion of the "unitary executive" theory that led to vast NSA and FBI overreach and abuse. Some amendment and some discussion is appropriate before cloture is invoked. Senators have the authority to debate the government's surveillance powers freely and openly, and to offer such amendments as they see fit. By voting NO on cloture at 5:30pm today, you allow the opportunity for these awesome powers to receive the careful and due consideration that our Founders intended for the Senate to provide."
