Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Secret Law
Wyden, Heinrich and Hirono Ask for Straight Answers About Unauthorized CIA Search of Senate Files
Washington, D.C.- Senate Intelligence Committee Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), today called on the president and CIA director to finally acknowledge that the CIA's search of Senate files was improper and will not happen again. CIA officials secretly searched Senate Intelligence Committee files in January 2014, while the committee was investigating the agency's use of torture from 2002-2007. Director Brennan repeatedly denied that the search … Continue Reading
December 16, 2015
Wyden Slams Latest, Worse Version of Cybersecurity Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D - Ore., issued the following statement on the latest version of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which has been included in the omnibus appropriations bill. "This 'cybersecurity' bill was a bad bill when it passed the Senate and it is an even worse bill today. Americans deserve policies that protect both their security and their liberty. This bill fails on both counts. Cybersecurity experts say CISA will do little to prevent major … Continue Reading
November 29, 2015
Wyden Statement on End of NSA Phone Records Dragnet
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., hailed the end of the National Security Agency's phone records dragnet, which was officially shut down today, as the result of the USA Freedom Act. Wyden fought for nearly a decade to draw attention to secret interpretations of the Patriot Act that the government used to justify this bulk collection, and then to end this unnecessary program that violated Americans' privacy. "This is a victory for everyone who believes in protecting both American … Continue Reading
November 09, 2015
The Supreme Court Hasn’t Stopped the Government From Tracking Your Cellphone Without a Warrant. Time to Pass Wyden’s GPS Act
Washington, D.C. -After the Supreme Court today declined to hear an appeal of a decision allowing the government to access cell phone location data without a warrant, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., renewed his call to clarify a tangled mess of legal decisions around electronic tracking of Americans' movements. "It's clear the courts won't resolve this question any time soon, so Congress needs to step up and make sure that Americans' cell phones aren't being used as warrantless government GPS … Continue Reading
October 06, 2015
Wyden Blasts EU ‘Safe Harbor’ Ruling
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., condemned the European Union Court of Justice ruling today, which struck down a key agreement allowing the free flow of information between Europe and the United States. Wyden has long warned of the economic dangers of overbroad surveillance, including at a roundtable in Silicon Valley last year. "By striking down the Safe Harbor Agreement, the European Union Court of Justice today called for open season against American businesses. This misguided … Continue Reading
August 05, 2015
Wyden: Senate Punts Flawed Surveillance Bill
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised news the Senate will indefinitely delay a vote on CISA, a bill that would have created new threats to Americans' privacy, while doing little if anything to protect their digital security. "Once again, those who value Americans' privacy more than political expediency have made sure this harmful, misguided bill won't sail through the Senate without meaningful debate," Wyden said. "The Republican leadership's decision to put off a vote … Continue Reading
July 28, 2015
Wyden Praises News Senate Likely to Delay Vote on Flawed Cyber Bill
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised news that the Senate will likely delay consideration of a flawed cybersecurity bill for at least a month, but warned that defenders of Americans' privacy must mobilize to prevent the bill from being revived this fall. "This is a temporary victory, but any delay is a good delay when it comes to a flawed bill that threatens Americans' privacy without making our personal information any safer. The grassroots and privacy advocates … Continue Reading
July 28, 2015
Wyden Blocks Intelligence Authorization Bill Over Flawed Provision Targeting Social Media Platforms
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today placed a hold on the 2016 Intelligence Authorization bill over a flawed provision that would require companies like Twitter and Facebook to make judgments about when users' speech constitutes "terrorist activity." The provision would require Internet and social media companies to report to the government any "terrorist activity" they are aware of on their platforms. After hearing concerns from a number of companies, Wyden warned this … Continue Reading
June 30, 2015
Wyden Blasts Unnecessary Resumption of NSA Phone Records Dragnet
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today criticized a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court decision allowing the NSA to resume collecting millions of Americans' phone records. The decision allows five more months of the NSA dragnet, before the phone records program is banned for good. "I see no reason for the Executive Branch to restart bulk collection, even for a few months. This illegal dragnet surveillance violated Americans' rights for fourteen years without making our … Continue Reading
June 17, 2015
Wyden, Heller Bill Requires Warrants For Aerial Surveillance
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., today introduced the Protecting Individuals From Mass Aerial Surveillance Act, which requires the federal government to obtain a warrant when it conducts aerial surveillance in the United States. As new technology like high-quality digital cameras, cellphone tracking equipment and low-cost unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have removed barriers to monitoring Americans from the air, this bipartisan legislation would create … Continue Reading
June 16, 2015
Wyden Praises Senate Vote To Ban Torture
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., praised the Senate's passage of an amendment banning torture by U.S. intelligence agencies. The amendment, by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and John McCain, R-Ariz., requires intelligence agencies to follow the Army Field Manual's guidelines for interrogations. Wyden co-sponsored the amendment, which was added to a defense policy bill. "With today's vote, the Senate expressed clear support for strengthening and clarifying the U.S. ban on torture," … Continue Reading
June 02, 2015
Wyden and Paul Release Joint Amendments, Call For Votes On Proposals to Expand Surveillance Reforms
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., announced nine amendments to reform U.S. surveillance programs, enhance protections for American's personal information and improve transparency regarding intelligence activities. Wyden and Paul called on Republican leaders to allow votes on amendments to strengthen privacy protections, rather than forcing votes on amendments that would water down the USA Freedom Act. The joint amendments would: Amendment 1446: Require … Continue Reading
May 31, 2015
Wyden Praises End to NSA Phone Records Dragnet, Calls for Passage of Surveillance Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., tonight praised the end to the bulk collection of Americans' information under the Patriot Act, and called for the Senate to pass the USA Freedom Act to enact additional reforms. "Tonight the collection of phone records of millions of innocent Americans will end. The demise of this dragnet surveillance is a victory for the principle that Americans do not need to sacrifice liberty to have security. I have worked for this moment since I first learned … Continue Reading
May 23, 2015
Wyden Statement on Senate Blocking Extension of Patriot Act Mass Surveillance
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden issued the following statement after the U.S Senate blocked a short-term extension of mass surveillance under the Patriot Act: "Today the Ben Franklin caucus stood tall and proved that supporters of mass surveillance can no longer bully the U.S. Senate into extending an illegal and unconstitutional law by running out the clock. When Sen. McConnell tried to extend Patriot Act for five more days, I said no more." "This week Americans must continue to speak out … Continue Reading
May 13, 2015
Wyden Statement on House Passage of USA Freedom Act
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the USA Freedom Act by a 338 to 88 vote: "Today, the House of Representatives took an important step for protecting the privacy of Americans by voting to end the bulk collection of millions of Americans' personal information under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. I am also encouraged that the version of the USA Freedom Act passed today increases … Continue Reading
May 08, 2015
Wyden, Heinrich, Hirono to Director Brennan: CIA Must Admit Secret Search of Senate Files Was Improper
Washington, D.C. - CIA Director John Brennan must admit the CIA improperly searched Senate files, and commit to never again threatening the Constitutional separation between Congress and the executive branch, Senate Intelligence Committee members Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, wrote today. "It is vitally important for the American public to have confidence that senior intelligence officials respect US laws and the Constitution, including our democratic … Continue Reading
May 07, 2015
Wyden, Heinrich: Second Circuit Court of Appeals Rules NSA Dragnet Is Illegal – One More Reason to End the Dragnet
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., today called on the White House to finally end the mass surveillance of Americans, following a decision by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that the National Security Agency is violating the law by collecting millions of Americans' phone records. "This is a huge step for individual Americans' rights," Wyden said. "This dragnet surveillance program violates the law and tramples on Americans' privacy rights without … Continue Reading
April 28, 2015
Wyden Statement on USA Freedom Act of 2015
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore., issued the following statement on the USA Freedom Act of 2015, introduced on Tuesday, which would end bulk collection of Americans' information under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. "This legislation would finally end bulk collection of the personal information of millions of Americans, and make other important reforms like increasing transparency and improving the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court process. I look forward to working with … Continue Reading
March 12, 2015
Wyden: Cybersecurity Bill Lacks Privacy Protections, Doesn’t Secure Networks
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. issued the following statement after voting against the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act during a Senate Intelligence Committee markup today: "Cyber-attacks and hacking against U.S. companies and networks are a serious problem for the American economy and for our national security. It makes sense to encourage private firms to share information about cybersecurity threats. But this information sharing is only acceptable if there are strong … Continue Reading
January 21, 2015
Wyden Statement on Covering up Torture Report and Panetta Review
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on efforts to cover up the facts about torture by returning the Panetta Review to the CIA and pulling back all copies of the Senate Intelligence Committee's torture report from the executive branch: "The President has said that he wants to make sure that torture never happens again, so I'm confident he is going to make sure that the full Senate torture report is read by policymakers and officials across the government. … Continue Reading
