[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE DAY WE FIGHT BACK

  (Mr. YODER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YODER. Madam Speaker, each day Americans use new and more common 
technology to communicate with each other, to read online, share 
photographs, shop and purchase goods, do their banking, and countless 
other everyday tasks.
  In this new tech age, Americans live their lives online, yet the 
Federal Government acts as if these communications are not subject to 
Fourth Amendment protections. In fact, the IRS has claimed that 
Americans ``do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy'' when it 
comes to their emails being read by the Federal Government.
  Thousands of Americans are joining together today in an effort to 
bring awareness to some of the unconstitutional and intrusive 
surveillance practices of our United States Government.
  February 11 is ``The Day We Fight Back.'' It is a reminder that law-
abiding Americans have certain expectations of privacy and rights 
guaranteed in our Constitution that our government cannot unreasonably 
search and seize our personal property, including electronic property, 
without just cause. That is why I am a lead sponsor of the Email 
Privacy Act, which will apply the same Fourth Amendment protections to 
our electronic communication as the paper documents in your home file 
cabinet.
  Madam Speaker, let's pass this bipartisan bill. Let's draw clear 
lines to ensure our government protects the constitutional rights of 
every American.

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