An amendment to end authority for the blanket collection of records under the Patriot Act. It would also bar the NSA and other agencies from using Section 215 of the Patriot Act to collect records, including telephone call records, that pertain to persons who are not subject to an investigation under Section 215.
The Amash–Conyers Amendment was a proposal to end the "NSA's blanket collection of Americans' telephone records", sponsored by Justin Amash and John Conyers in the US House of Representatives.[1] The measure was voted down, 217 to 205.
"sought to bar the NSA and other agencies from using Section 215 of the Patriot Act to collect records", thereby ending the mass surveillance of Americans. Instead, it permitted "the FISA court under Sec. 215 to order the production of records that pertain only to a person under investigation".
would have permitted the continued use of business records and other "tangible things" if the data were "actually related to an authorized counter-terrorism investigation".
would have required judicial oversight with "a substantive, statutory standard to apply to make sure the NSA does not violate Americans' civil liberties".
Opposition
Notable opposition to the amendment came from Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), the senior leaders of the House Intelligence Committee, and from the administration of President Barack Obama.[2] The Obama administration statement criticized the amendment for being a "blunt approach", saying "We urge the House to reject the Amash amendment and instead move forward with an approach that appropriately takes into account the need for a reasoned review of what tools can best secure the nation."[2][6] General Keith Alexander, the director of the NSA, gave an "emergency" four-hour briefing for House members in which he "implored legislators that preventing his agency from collecting the phone records on millions of Americans would have dire consequences for national security."[6][7]
Vote
Democratic yea
Democratic nay
Republican yea
Republican nay
Absent or no representative seated
On July 24, 2013, the amendment was considered by the House of Representatives. The measure was "narrowly defeated" by a vote of 217 to 205.[2][8][9]
The vote was noticed for its unusual split, described as "one of the most unusual votes taken in the House in a long time."[10] It garnered both bi-partisan support and bi-partisan opposition: 94 Republicans and 111 Democrats voted for the amendment. It was opposed by 134 Republicans and 83 Democrats.[11] House leaders from both parties opposed the amendment.[6] The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Intelligence Committee released a joint statement opposing the amendment, arguing it would have "eliminated a crucial counterterrorism tool".[6][12][13] 12 members (6 Republicans and 6 Democrats) did not vote on the amendment.[14]
An analysis indicated that those who voted against the amendment received 122% more in campaign contributions from defense contractors than those who voted in favor.[15]
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