Sen. John Cornyn urged lawmakers not to reform or kill off parts of the Patriot Act set to expire June 1.
“I believe our national security will be put at greater risk if the provisions are allowed to expire,” the Senate’s No. 2 Republican wrote in an op-ed for the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.
“Many intelligence experts have said the Patriot Act makes the United States safer today than we were pre-9/11,” the Texas Republican added. “By maintaining strong oversight of these and other government programs, we can have a win-win situation that protects both American lives and American liberties.”
Three provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire at the end of the month, including one that allows the NSA to collect Americans’ phone records without a warrant. The program, which collects phone data and not actual conversations, uses a “vigorous oversight system and strict safeguards,” Cornyn wrote.
The Senate will vote on legislation later this week to end the NSA program, while renewing other Patriot Act provisions. A short-term fix of the bill may be in the works.
“The intelligence community has a vital role to play in safeguarding our nation,” Cornyn wrote. “I believe the Patriot Act provides our intelligence community and law enforcement with the tools they need to operate effectively to protect all Americans, while using appropriate checks and balances to ensure our rights remain intact.”
