Congress has quietly passed an Intelligence Authorization Bill that grants the executive branch virtually unlimited warrentless access to the communications of every American and gives this information to not just federal agencies but to local law enforcement as well. While similar powers have been asserted by executive order before nothing on this level has ever been passed by congress and for it to pass without so much as a debate is completely unjustifiable.
At the last moment representative Justin Amash found the true intent of the bill and was able to make a motion to reconsider. The bill has passed but has not yet been sent to the president to sign, we still barely have the ability to change the original vote but you need to contact your representative immediately and let them know that the bill in it's current form is completely unacceptable. Failure to act now will lead to the bill being sent to the president.
EMAIL YOUR CONGRESSMAN:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
Media Ready Pastebin:
http://pastebin.com/LptLHsTU
Posters and Stickers:
http://imgur.com/xhAhLvh
INCRIMINATNG PART OF THE BILL: AKA SECTION 309!
http://i.imgur.com/h47E4Bj.png
General Info and Links:
Full text of the bill can be found here.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4681
White House petition:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/protect-our-privacy-and-please-veto-hr-4681-aka-intelligence-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2015/lln5hN5c
Locate your reps:
http://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup
This is especially important. Find your congressman and let him know you hate this
NEWS REPORTS:
The Hill:
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/226752-gop-rep-attempted-late-bid-to-kill-spy-bill
US News:
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/12/11/congress-endorses-warrantless-collection-storage-of-us-communications
So basically, the NSA and GHCQ watch the whole world for people who disagree with being watched or disagree with the status quo. Your life is available to everyone inside the agencies and any other agencies that request it, and none of these people need a warrant.
What this law does is bring is closer to home and allow your local bumfuck cop to access your life too. Again, no warrant needed.
