Quigley Prioritizes Spending to Protect Privacy Rights of Americans

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), offered an amendment to increase funding for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board by $2 million to match the agency’s request so that they can fulfill their mission to defend the privacy rights of American citizens during the Appropriation Committee’s consideration of the Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill.

“During my 18 months on the House Intelligence Committee, I’ve not only gained a better understanding of the unique and complex security challenges facing our great nation, but I’ve also gained a better understanding and a great amount of respect for the remarkable, determined, and incredibly important work that our intelligence and law enforcement communities take on everyday to keep Americans safe,” said Rep. Quigley. “But equally important is our government’s responsibility to strike the proper balance between protecting our nation’s security and protecting the civil liberties of its citizens. That is why my amendment to increase funding for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is so important. As we face a continuing threat of terrorism and seek new ways to protect Americans from harm, members of Congress have a responsibility to support increased transparency and accountability and ensure the protection of privacy rights.”

Since its establishment in 2012, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has been an effective, independent, and bipartisan watchdog over U.S. intelligence and counterterrorism programs. Many of the recommendations made by this independent body to increase transparency and protect constitutional rights have been used by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement services to reform programs and policies. For example, its recommendations for reforming the Patriot Act’s Section 215 were incorporated into the USA Freedom Act.

Rep. Quigley is a co-founder of the Congressional Transparency Caucus and the only House Appropriator also on the House Intelligence Committee. Most recently, Rep. Quigley has been focused on national security priorities that really keep Americans safe – like U.S. homeland security grants and non-nuclear proliferation – as opposed to fighting the Cold War of previous decades. Last year, Rep. Quigley voted in favor of the USA FREEDOM Act, which kept Americans’ privacy and security at the forefront. Upon his arrival to Congress, Rep. Quigley introduced the Transparency in Government Act, a wide-ranging good government reform bill that would bring unprecedented access and accountability to the federal government.