[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16061]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            USA FREEDOM ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I appreciate the kind words of the majority 
leader. He and I have been friends for decades. He worked with me and 
was in touch with me throughout the recent effort on the NSA reform 
bill, the USA FREEDOM Act of 2014. He knew we had cosponsors, 
Republicans and Democrats, from across the political spectrum. This was 
an effort to do what was best for America and do it at a time when we 
would not be under urgent deadlines. Several of the authorities we were 
trying to amend expire on June 1 of next year.
  We had a piece of legislation that began in the House of 
Representatives by a Republican chairman. We added to the bill in the 
Senate. There was a very clear signal from the House of Representatives 
that if we had passed the USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 here in the Senate, 
they would have taken it up and passed it. We would be enacting 
legislation that would improve not only the security of Americans, but 
also the privacy and individual liberties of Americans. And we would 
not do it under a deadline. So it was unfortunate last night that there 
was a partisan effort to stop it. There was some of the worst fear-
mongering I have heard on this floor in 40 years. But I say this as 
more of a way to thank the distinguished majority leader for his 
steadfast support.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the reason I feel--and I have made my 
remarks regarding the Senator from Vermont. There has been no one in 
modern history who has done more to protect the civil liberties of 
people than the senior Senator from Vermont. This legislation was 
drafted toward that effect, to make sure we were able to do the 
necessary work for this country as it relates to what was in this bill 
but also to protect the liberties of Americans.
  I have such admiration for my friend from Vermont, for his work on 
landmines. At the time he started the conversation on landmines, he was 
it, but of course there are now people all over the world who are 
following his lead on the maiming, people who have been killed, 
thousands of people. Thousands of people, as we speak, are still being 
killed by landmines from wars past. So the fact that we were not able 
to get to this legislation does not in any way take away from the 
legacy of this good man who has done so much to protect the individual 
liberties of the people in Vermont and across the country.
  Mr. LEAHY. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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