A group of 25 House members has formed a bipartisan caucus with the goal to protect the privacy rights of citizens from government surveillance programs, USA Today reported Wednesday.Erin Kelly writes 13 Republicans and 12 Democrats created the House Fourth Amendment Caucus in an effort to uphold Americans’ privacy amid requests from government authorities for access to personal information of individuals.
Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-California) and Ted Poe (R-Texas) spearhead the group, Kelly reports.
The coalition uses the Fourth Amendment as the basis for its establishment and considers the government’s attempt to search electronic data from citizens as a threat to the Constitutional amendment’s provisions, according to the report.
“In the face of difficult circumstances, some are quick to pursue extreme, unconstitutional measures; the Fourth Amendment Caucus will be a moderating influence that gives voice to countless Americans whose rights are violated by these ill-conceived policies,” said Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan).
