WASHINGTON – Rep. Massie (R-KY), co-sponsored landmark legislation introduced this week that would prevent warrantless searches of Americans’ calls, emails and other communications. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Reforming and Improving the Government’s High-Tech Surveillance (USA RIGHTS) Act is also sponsored by Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., Ted Poe, R-Texas, Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, Justin Amash, R-Mich., and Ted Lieu, D-Calif.

“Our government has clearly violated the Fourth Amendment by collecting information on millions of Americans.  Our country's war for independence was partially motivated by the King's abuse of general warrants… the equivalent of today's indiscriminate snooping on millions of Americans,” said Massie.  “In order to issue warrants, our founders wisely required 'probable cause,' and 'particular descriptions of the persons and things to be seized' in the Fourth Amendment.  Even today, those words leave no room for the well-intentioned but unhealthy domestic spying being practiced by our government.”

This legislation reforms a sweeping, secretive government spying program to protect the Constitutional rights of Americans, while giving intelligence agencies authority to target foreign terrorists, criminals and other overseas intelligence targets.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and a total of 11 senators introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.