Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., tried but failed to restrict the National Security Agency’s authority to collect phone records, despite receiving the support of the original author of the Patriot Act, which initiated the NSA program.

“This amendment does not stop the collection of data under section 215 to people who are subject of an investigation,” Sensenbrenner said in expressing “strong support” for the Amash proposal, “it prevents the collection [of data] of people who are not subject to an investigation.”