Vern Buchanan Calls for NSA Reforms

From his perch in the Congressional Privacy Caucus, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., pointed to a report last week that the National Security Agency (NSA) engaged in almost 2,800 illegal incidents where they obtained personal communications, and called for Congress to back major reforms.

These latest revelations of government overreach are extremely disturbing, said Buchanan in a statement on Wednesday morning. Our strength as a nation flows from the values and freedoms laid out in the Constitution, including the right against unreasonable searches and seizures. Its imperative that both parties work together and institute reforms to protect the privacy and liberties of the American people.

Buchanan pushed an amendment last month ensuring the NSA cant collect information on Americans not under investigation, but it was narrowly defeated. The congressman promised to continue fighting on the matter when Congress meets again next month.

It is a slippery slope if we allow our basic freedoms to be eroded in the name of security, said Buchanan. The time has come for Congress to address these issues in a transparent, public manner.