[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 107 (Wednesday, July 24, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PROTECTING AMERICANS' PRIVACY

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                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2013

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I voted for the Amash/Conyers amendment to 
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act because it is the only 
means available to the House at this time to seek to prevent the 
Executive Branch from having sole custody of over a trillion records 
regarding the phone calls of ordinary Americans. I hope the 
Administration will soon put forward a proposal that would maintain our 
national security, while including greater privacy protections. We need 
more than a promise by the Executive Branch that it will hold records 
but not look at them except for ``relevant'' purposes. Possession is 9/
10 of the law. Even a credible promise of the Administration may be 
less credible in future administrations. We cannot necessarily trust 
unknown future administrations to maintain the privacy commitments of 
this Administration.
    

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