The Opposite of the USA PATRIOT Act: the USA FREEDOM Act

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., VT) and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R., WI) have introduced the USA FREEDOM (Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet-collection, and On-line Monitoring) Act, which according to their press release, appears to be a direct response to how the USA PATRIOT Act was interpreted by the courts. The release notes that

Following 9/11, the USA PATRIOT Act passed the judiciary committees with overwhelming bipartisan support. The bill has helped keep Americans safe by ensuring information is shared among those responsible for defending our country and by enhancing the tools the intelligence community needs to identify and track terrorists,” Sensenbrenner said. “But somewhere along the way, the balance between security and privacy was lost. It’s now time for the judiciary committees to again come together in a bipartisan fashion to ensure the law is properly interpreted, past abuses are not repeated and American liberties are protected. Washington must regain Americans’ trust in their government. The USA FREEDOM Act is an essential first step. I would like to thank Congressmen Conyers and Amash, Congresswoman Lofgren, Chairman Issa and others for working with us to draft this important legislation and encourage all my colleagues to support it.” 

The USA FREEDOM Act would end the dragnet collection of Americans’ phone records under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and ensure that other authorities cannot be used to justify similar dragnet collection. The bill also provides more safeguards for warrantless surveillance under the FISA Amendments Act.

The bill includes other significant privacy and oversight provisions, provides for the creation of a Special Advocate to focus on the protection of privacy rights and civil liberties before the FISA Court, and requires more detailed public reporting about the numbers and types of FISA orders that are issued.

The bill currently has 16 co-sponsors in the Senate, and over 70 co-sponsors in the House, both of which consist of Republicans and Democrats. The authors penned an op-ed in Politico, and a further outline of the legislation can be found here. 

The American RIP Act

In 2000, the Westminster Parliament passed the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Act (also known as RIPA). Now, with Halloween looming, Congress is putting their own version of the RIP Act forward, the Retail Investor Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner (R, MO). The major difficulty, however, is that the White House opposes the measure, noting that the measure would "derail important rulemakings underway at the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Labor that are critical to protecting Americans’ hard-earned savings and preserving their retirement security." 

The complete release is located below. 
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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503

                                                                                      October 28, 2013

                                                                                      (House Rules)

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

H.R. 2374 – Retail Investor Protection Act

(Rep. Wagner, R-MO, and Rep. Murphy, D-FL)

The Administration strongly opposes passage of H.R. 2374 because it would derail important rulemakings underway at the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Labor that are critical to protecting Americans’ hard-earned savings and preserving their retirement security.  

H.R. 2374 prohibits Labor from issuing a rule to protect investors until the SEC engages in and completes further study of the effect of a rulemaking on retail investors.  The bill ignores the fact that significant work has already been conducted in both agencies and that the agencies have included and continue to include the public, industry, and numerous stakeholders in their rulemaking processes.  Moreover, the two agencies are already working closely to avoid conflicting requirements for the regulated community, and this legislation would hamper effective coordination between the two agencies.  The bill would hinder efforts to protect consumers from conflicts of interest among brokers, dealers, financial advisors, and others whose incentives may be misaligned with investors, potentially leading to deceptive and abusive practices.  

The Administration is committed to ensuring that American workers and retirees are able to receive advice about how to invest their money in safe, secure, and transparent financial products that is free from harmful conflicts of interest.  These ongoing rulemakings are designed to protect trillions of dollars in retirement savings of millions of workers and retirees by ensuring that paid advisors and other entities do not place their own financial interests over those of their customers.  This legislation would place an unnecessary obstacle in the way of these efforts to prevent such harmful conflicts of interest, which hurt businesses, consumers, and retirees and their families.

If the President were presented with H.R. 2374, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

DREG(s) of a Working Group

Today the Obama Administration came out against two House measures, the Deficit Reduction and Economic Growth (DREG) Working Group Act of 2013 (H.R. 3273) and the Federal Worker Pay Fairness Act (H.J.Res. 89). The official statement notes that: 

The Administration strongly opposes House joint passage of H.J. Res. 89 and H.R. 3273, which does nothing to solve the immediate, pressing obligations the Congress has to open the Government and pay its bills. The House should allow a straight up or down vote on Senate-passed H.J. Res. 59 to reopen the Government, bring all the Nation's dedicated civil servants back to work, and provide the services middle class Americans deserve. In addition, the House should pass a clean debt ceiling bill without drama or delay so that the United States can continue to pay its bills and fulfill the Nation's obligations. The President has been clear that he is open to discussing a broad range of measures to support the Nation's economy, create jobs and further reduce the deficit, once the Congress meets its responsibility to open the Government and pay its bills.

More Shutdown Proposals

H.J. Res. 75: Nutrition Assistance for Low-Income Women and Children Act

H.J. Res. 76: Nuclear Weapon Security & Non-Proliferation Act

H.J. Res. 77: Food and Drug Safety Act

H.J. Res. 78: Preserving Our Intelligence Capabilities Act

H.J. Res. 79: Border Safety & Security Act

H.J. Res 80: American Indian and Alaska Native, Health, Education, and Safety Act

H.J. Res. 82: National Weather Monitoring Act

H.J. Res. 83: Impact Aid for Local Schools Act

H.J. Res. 84: Head Start for Low-Income Children Act

H.J. Res 85: National Emergency and Disaster Recovery Act

H.R. 3223: Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act

Shutdown Funding Measures

A number of small-scale funding measures have been introduced in the House since the government shutdown went into effect last night. Here's a few that the Committee on Rules considered today (including some quite provocative titles): 

H.J. Res. 70 - Open Our National Parks and Museums Act

H.J. Res. 71 - Provide Local Funding for the District of Columbia Act 

H.J. Res. 72 - Honoring Our Promise to America's Veterans Act

H.J. Res. 73 - Research for Lifesaving Cures Act 

H.R. 3230 - Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act

Still Gettin' Paid

In the face of a government shutdown on Monday President Barack Obama signed H.R. 3210, the Pay Our Military Act, which guarantees that military members will remain paid throughout the government shutdown. According to the White House press release, the law:

"provides continuing appropriations for pay and allowances during any period for which interim or full-year appropriations for FY 2014 are not in effect as follows: for members of the Armed Forces, including Reserve Component personnel who perform active service during such period, and for civilian personnel and contractors of the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security (in the case of the Coast Guard) whom the respective Secretaries determine are providing support to members of the Armed Forces."

Increasing Hunger in America Act

We've previously posted on how bill names can garner opposition pseudonyms, and how recently these have been coming from Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D., MD). Thus, it came as no surprise when Rep. Frank Lucas' (R., OK) Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013 came up for a vote in the House and was unofficially renamed the "Increasing Hunger in America Act" by Rep. Hoyer.

This remains an interesting phenomenon that we'll keep our eyes on.  

Kids Now, Campaigns Later

Rep. Greg Harper (R., MS) and Rep. Tom Cole (R., OK) have introduced the Kids First Research Act, which would strip funding for presidential campaigns and party conventions, and prioritize research for pediatrics. The measure was announced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on World Autism Day. 

Partial press release by Rep. Cantor located below. 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tue, 04/02/2013 - 9:52am

CONTACT: Megan Whittemore
(202) 225-7440

Congressman Cantor Announces Kids First Research Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On World Autism Day, Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07) unveiled theKids First Research Act, a proposal which will be introduced in the House in the coming weeks to prioritize pediatric research to assist children with autism and other diseases. Sponsored by Representative Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Representative Tom Cole (R-OK), this legislation will eliminate taxpayer financing of presidential campaigns and party conventions and instead expand pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health.

Congressman Cantor said, “An astounding 1 in 50 school kids has autism. House Republicans are focused on smart policy solutions that will help parents meet the needs of their families and help children live a life full of opportunity. The Kids First Research Act will prioritize federal funding to support and expand pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health. Instead of spending millions of taxpayer dollars for presidential campaigns, these funds will be better spent helping find cures and treatments for pediatric diseases and disorders like autism.”

Representative Harper said, “Recent scientific research breakthroughs linking Fragile X Syndrome and autism have given hope to individuals and their families. In order for clinical trials – and other advancements – to meet their full potential, adequate federal resources must be directed to pediatric research.” ...

States Rights and Energy Security

Rep. Bill Flores (R., TX) has introduced the Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act. According to a press release by the bill's sponsor: 

There are vast differences in geology that have to be addressed as we produce energy across America and H.R. 2728 will protect the state-driven, bottom up approach to oil and gas regulations. This legislation is about bolstering manufacturing jobs, reaching our nation’s goal of energy security and empowering local self-government while placing a check on the growth of out-of-control, top down federal government. I am proud that this bill passed through the Natural Resources Committee and will continue to work to bring it before the whole House.

SAFE in Our Schools?

Rep. Donald Payne (D., NJ) has introduced the Secure America for Education (SAFE) in Our Schools Act, which, according to a press release, would "require each State applying for State Homeland Security Grant Program funding to certify that it requires schools to have adequate emergency preparedness plans in place in case of disaster."

Partial press release available below. 

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Payne Introduces SAFE In Our Schools Act

Sep 20, 2013 Issues: National Security

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) authored and introduced the “Secure America for Education in Our Schools Act” or the “S.A.F.E. in Our Schools Act,” which would require each State applying for State Homeland Security Grant Program funding to certify that it requires schools to have adequate emergency preparedness plans in place in case of disaster.  At a Subcommittee Hearing entitled, “Assessing the Nation’s State of Preparedness: A Federal, State, and Local Perspective,” Kathy Spangler, Vice President of U.S. Programs at Save the Children commended Rep. Payne, Jr. on his efforts and fully endorsed the SAFE in Our Schools Act.

“Every day while more than 50 million children go to school, most Americans take for granted that their child will be safe once they walk through the school house doors,” said Rep. Payne, Jr., Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications and author of the bill.  “Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Most recently we have seen an increase in the number of natural and man-made disasters that put our children in danger, from Hurricane Sandy and the shootings at Newtown, to the Oklahoma tornadoes and the Colorado floods. We have a responsibility to protect our children, and I want to thank Save the Children for their support of my legislation and for all of their hard work in making sure that our children remain a priority in our disaster planning and preparedness efforts.”

“Past experience has shown us that children have unique needs when it comes to preparing for and responding to emergencies and potential disasters,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and co-sponsor of the bill.  “Too often, these needs are not met when state and local governments craft homeland security preparedness policy.  I commend Ranking Member Payne, Jr. for introducing the ‘S.A.F.E. in Our Schools Act’ which will ensure that schools have the proper preparedness plans in place in case of emergency.” ...

Helium Substitute Amendment

In April we noted the House was considering the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act. Now, the Senate has passed a substitute amendment on the legislation, known as the High Technology Jobs Preservation Act. The White House supports the Senate Amendment, noting 

The substitute amendment would prevent theOctober 7, 2013, termination of the Federal program for crude helium sale, storage, and delivery.  The impending abrupt shutdown of this program would cause a spike in helium prices that would harm many U.S. industries and disrupt national security programs.  Instead, the substitute amendment would provide for an orderly transition of theFederal Government out of the helium market.