Preview

A Policy Brief of NSA Reform

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3654 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
A Policy Brief of NSA Reform
A Policy Brief of NSA Reform

Jehireh Peraza-Williams
November 24, 2014
Presented to Senator Ted Cruz

I. Introduction: Since the acknowledgment of abused power by the NSA by former NSA contractor, Edward Snowden, long debate about the constitutionality of the collection of private records of American citizens has ensued in the senate. As a result of this issue that has and can continue to transgress on the civil liberty of privacy by all persons and entities, The USA Freedom act has been created which seeks to limit and to regulate the power of US surveillance agencies to collect private information from third parties. The USA Freedom directly addresses issues that are included in the USA Patriot Act, an act that was created to combat and to create protection against the threat of terrorism, which was a fear that heightened in response to the 2001 September 11 attacks (Savage). While this bill proved necessary at the time, in the act, are provisions that overstep constitutional boundaries that go beyond the intention and framework of the original plan.
This is an issue that requires your continued participation. I am aware that this is an issue that you have become directly involved with and have worked to support the enactment of the USA Freedom Act. As a senator currently working with and recently “opposite” to Rand Paul, who has garnered much support by big tech companies in silicon valley, I believe that with the same stance, the both of you can work with the support of big tech companies to work to pass the enactment of the USA Freedom Act (Savage). While the act still currently includes controversial aspects left over from the original Patriot Act that allows for bulk surveillance practices, it is important that either the bill is passed and addressed from the inside as you have suggested along with Senator Sensenbrenner, or that new provisions are made under a new act that addresses this issue.

II. Background Information: (a) Existing


Bibliography: Allahpundit. "Ted Cruz: Let’s Not Rush to Judgment on NSA Surveillance - Hot Air." HotAir.com. N.p., 17 June 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Campbell, Colin. "Congress Is About To Take Its Most Important NSA Surveillance Vote Yet." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Cohn, Cindy, and Trevor Timm. "Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge to FISA Amendments Act; EFF 's Lawsuit Over NSA Warrantless Wiretapping Remains." Electronic Frontier Foundation. N.p., 27 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Dennis, Steven. "NSA Reform Effort Dies in Senate Vote (Updated)." The World 's Greatest Deliberative Body. N.p., 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Doherty, Carroll. "Balancing Act: National Security and Civil Liberties in Post-9/11 Era." Pew Research Center RSS. N.p., 7 June 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Elliott, Kennedy, and Terri Rupar. "Six Months of Revelations on NSA." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Ferrechio, Susan. "Senate Kills NSA Surveillance Reform Bill | WashingtonExaminer.com." Washington Examiner. Washington Examiner, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "FISA, the NSA, and America 's Secret Court System." Mises Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Froomkin, Dan. "NSA Reform Bill Dies As Republicans Hype Threats From Islamic State - The Intercept." The Intercept NSA Reform Bill Dies As Republicans Hype Threats From Islamic State Comments. N.p., 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Gallagher, Kevin. "Fifteen Months After the NSA Revelations, Why Aren 't More News Organizations Using HTTPS?" Freedom of the Press Foundation. N.p., 12 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Gellman, Barton, and Ashkan Soltani. "NSA Tracking Cellphone Locations Worldwide, Snowden Documents Show." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. Ghoshal, Abihmanyu. "Google, Apple and Others Push for the Usa Freedom Act." TNW Network All Stories RSS. N.p., 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Greenwald, Glenn. "Congress Is Irrelevant on Mass Surveillance. Here 's What Matters Instead. - The Intercept." The Intercept Congress Is Irrelevant on Mass Surveillance Heres What Matters Instead Comments. N.p., 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Hattem, Julian. "Tech Giants Make Final Push to Change NSA." TheHill. N.p., 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Hayden, Michael V., and Michael B. Mukasey. "NSA Reform That Only ISIS Could Love." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. "How the NSA Is Tracking People Right Now." Washington Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "How the NSA 's Domestic Spying Program Works." Electronic Frontier Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. Kelly, Erin. "NSA Spying Bill Stalls in Senate Vote." USA Today. Gannett, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Mike. "Apple, Google, Facebook Lobby Senate for NSA Reform." -HackSurfer. N.p., 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Miller, Claire Cain. "Revelations of N.S.A. Spying Cost U.S. Tech Companies." The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Mimms, Sarah, and Dustin Volz. "Why Did Bill Nelson and Rand Paul Vote Against NSA Reform?" Www.nationaljournal.com. The National Journal, 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "National Security." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Nichols, Michelle. "Germany, Brazil Push the U.N. to Be Tougher on Digital Spying." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 06 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Nuzzi, Tim MakOlivia. "Rand Paul Beats Ted Cruz, Saves NSA From ‘Reform’." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "Open Letter to the US Senate." Reform Government Surveillance -. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Page, Susan. "Poll: Most Americans Now Oppose the NSA Program." USA Today. Gannett, 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "Rein in the Surveillance State." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Reitman, Rainey. "86 Civil Liberties Groups and Internet Companies Demand an End to NSA Spying." Electronic Frontier Foundation. N.p., 10 June 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Romm, Tony. "Tech 's Biggest Players Hire First NSA Lobbyist." POLITICO. N.p., 6 Feb. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Rubin, Jennifer. "Ted Cruz and Rand Paul: Opposite Directions." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Savage, Charlie, and Jeremy W. Peters. "Bill to Restrict N.S.A. Data Collection Blocked in Vote by Senate Republicans." The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "SCF Won 't Support Lankford in Oklahoma." SCF Won 't Support Lankford in Oklahoma. N.p., 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "Sen. Ted Cruz." Opensecrets RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Shvartsman, Shulamit. "Three Patriot Act Provisions Set to Expire." Lawyers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Shvartsman, Shulamit. "Three Patriot Act Provisions Set to Expire." Lawyers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Sledge, Matt. "NSA Reform Bill Fails Key Senate Hurdle As Republicans Cry Terror." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. The Stream Team. "Timeline: A History of the Patriot Act | Al Jazeera America." Timeline: A History of the Patriot Act | Al Jazeera America. N.p., 23 Oct. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Sullivan, Sean. "Ted Cruz Wins Republican Runoff for Texas Senate Seat." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 01 Aug. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Toor, Amar. "Obama Assessing Four Alternatives to NSA Phone Data Collection: WSJ." The Verge. N.p., 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "The USA FREEDOM Act - Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner." The USA FREEDOM Act - Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Volz, Dustin, and Brendan Sasso. "Key Democrats Rally Behind NSA Reform Bill." Www.nationaljournal.com. National Journal, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Volz, Dustin, and Brendan Sasso. "McConnell Pushes Republicans to Silence Senate Debate on NSA Reform Bill." Www.nationaljournal.com. N.p., 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Volz, Dustin. "Obama Administration 'Strongly Supports ' NSA Reform Bill." Www.nationaljournal.com. N.p., 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "What Is the USA Patriot Web." What Is the USA Patriot Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Wilhelm, Alex, and Cat Zakrzewski. "Tech Companies Throw Their Support Behind Strengthened NSA Reform Bill." TechCrunch. N.p., 29 July 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    How Did 9/11 Changes To The Us
    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Did 9/11 Changes To The Us

    9-11 Commission, Homeland Security, and Intelligence Reform. (n.d.). Retrieved from U.S.Senate Comitee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/issues/9-11-commission…

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    NSA Persuasive Essay Example
    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages

    NSA Persuasive Essay Example

    Concerning the accusation of unconstitutional behavior, it has been made clear the on repeated occasions those agencies such as the NSA have reported that they are capable of “self-auditing.” One of the main pillars of the Constitution is to enable the system of checks and balances, and to separate the judicial power from the police power. The Constitution is supposed to uphold liberty regardless of the precautions…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Impact of the Usa Patriot Act on Local Law Enforcement
    • 1282 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Impact of the Usa Patriot Act on Local Law Enforcement

    US Government. Highlights of the USA Patriot Act. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from Preserving Life & Liberty: http://www.justice.gov/archive/ll/highlights.htm…

    • 1282 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    NSA Does Not Spy On Everyone Essay
    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages

    NSA Does Not Spy On Everyone Essay

    No, the NSA Does Not Spy on Everyone, Everywhere: Why the National Security Agency’s Data Surveillance Programs are Both Legal and Necessary…

    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Security vs. Liberty
    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Security vs. Liberty

    In the wake of September 11th, the country was in turmoil. Fear and confusion were rampant; direction was required. President George Bush, in a famous address, acknowledged the severity of the attacks, and called for a newly invigorated sense of nationalism. His plan for preventing future attacks called for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and expanded powers to intelligence agencies (Bush). During this time, one of the most provocative bills was allowed to pass, under the guise of a terrorist seeking bill. The Patriot Act was indeed effective in increasing the power allotted to surveillance agencies, but many feel at too high of a cost. Many have asked the question… "is the cure worse than the disease?" In order to appropriately analyze the Patriot Act, it is important to look at its exact stipulations, and how it has been used (misused) at the time of its passage and now.…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The U.S. Patriots Act
    • 2872 Words
    • 12 Pages

    The U.S. Patriots Act

    Cited: 2. "Another Cave-In on the Patriot Act." New York Times. N.p., 11 Feb. 2006. Web. 21 May 2013.…

    • 2872 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Controversy Of Edward Snowden's Violation
    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Controversy Of Edward Snowden's Violation

    Over the past century, the government has been a center of controversy and division. American citizens and non-American citizens, for years, have complained about many aspects of government ranging from hypocrisy to lies and false promises from politicians. This attitude was heightened because of an NSA employee named Edward Snowden, who afterwards fled to Russia for asylum from the U.S. government. Snowden revealed shocking secrets about operations orchestrated by the CIA and NSA. Most notably, their “snoopy” behavior. According to Snowden, government-based agencies constantly use programs and various devices to spy on people. The NSA has access to everyone’s phone records, emails, pictures, messages, and sensitive information. The leak caused…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Edward Snowden's Leak Of NSA Information
    • 1676 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Edward Snowden's Leak Of NSA Information

    In 2013, former National Security Agency (NSA) worker Edward Snowden left to Hong Kong, China. There, he leaked information about the NSA to reporters. A few weeks later, the information Snowden gave was released to the public (Biography). What Snowden leaked revealed that the NSA collected data from companies like Facebook and Google, that the NSA was hacking computers in Hong Kong and China, and much more (Business Insider). After Snowden leaked the information about the NSA, it has made people in America and around the world aware of the NSA’s actions. Snowden has changed the world by releasing the information about the NSA (Sledge). Without Snowden, the surveillance…

    • 1676 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Arguments Against The Fourth Amendment
    • 861 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Arguments Against The Fourth Amendment

    Alexander, then director of the National Security Agency (NSA), told Congress more than 50 potential terrorist attacks had been thwarted by two controversial programs tracking more than a billion phone calls and vast swaths of Internet data each day. Additionally, the attacks on would-be targets such as the New York Stock Exchange were prevented by consuming telephone and Internet information from millions of Americans since September 11, 2001. In testimony, General Alexander said, "In recent years, these programs, together with other intelligence, have protected the U.S and our allies from terrorist threats across the globe to include helping prevent the potential terrorist events over 50 times since…

    • 861 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    NSA leaked
    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages

    NSA leaked

    Eight months later, media outlets around the world have published more than 100 revelations in over a dozen languages. We now know that the NSA has tracked private American citizens’ phone calls, emails and social connections; monitored Internet traffic in and out of the U.S.; and spied on allied countries and foreign companies alike. What we have learned so far suggests that the agency has gone from protecting national security to facilitating the United States’ political and economic advantage on the world stage.…

    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Patriot Act
    • 1920 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Patriot Act

    George, H. P. (2005). PATRIOT summer: Extending the USA PATRIOT act. Information Today, 22(8), 1-1,62. Retrieved on November 29, 2012 from http://search.proquest.com/docview/214813665?accountid=32521.…

    • 1920 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Patriot Act
    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Patriot Act

    References: Savage, Charles. Battle Looms Over the Patriot Act. September 19, 2009. The New York Times. February 18, 2013<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/us/politics/20patriot.html?_r=0>…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Patriot Act
    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Patriot Act

    Recently, President Obama approved an extension of a few of the primary causes within the Patriot Act, which were due to be phased out as a part of the sunset clause.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Patriot Act
    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Patriot Act

    There are ten total parts, or titles, in the patriot act and each one covers a different part of growing the security in America in hopes of stopping terrorism. These titles touch on everything from anti-terrorism funding to the ability to wiretap the phone of any suspected terrorist without getting a warrant first. This has brought up many controversial discussions on whether it gives the government too much power and whether it goes against our constitutional rights. This paper will discuss the contents of The Patriot Act and whether or not it should have been signed into law.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Homeland Security
    • 3491 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Homeland Security

    Stockton, P. (2009). Reform, Don 't Merge, the Homeland Security Council. Washington Quarterly, 32(1), 107-114. doi:10.1080/01636600802535523.…

    • 3491 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More