[caption id=”attachment_131171″ align=”aligncenter” width=”711″] AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
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Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is planning on forcing the expiration of the Patriot Act — and thus the National Security Agency’s bulk data collection program — when the Senate meets Sunday.
“I have fought for several years now to end the illegal spying of the NSA on ordinary Americans,” Paul told Politico in an exclusive statement Saturday. “The callous use of general warrants and the disregard for the Bill of Rights must end. Forcing us to choose between our rights and our safety is a false choice and we are better than that as a nation and as a people.”
“Tomorrow, we will come back with just hours left before the NSA illegal spying powers expire,” Paul added. “So tomorrow, I will force the expiration of the NSA illegal spy program.”
While the Kentucky Republican and 2016 candidate for president emphasized the “need for a robust intelligence agency” in order to protect the country from terrorism, he insisted that the NSA’s program forces the American people to “give up who we are.”
“I am ready and willing to start the debate on how we fight terrorism without giving up our liberty,” Paul continued. “Sometimes when the problem is big enough, you just have to start over.”
During the rare weekend meeting, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to move forward on the USA Freedom Act, a bill that will make changes to the NSA’s program. Paul, however, appears set on blocking it, as he believes it expands the Patriot Act.
“Fighting against unconditional, illegal powers that take away our rights, taken by previous Congresses and administrations is … important. I do not do this to obstruct. I do it to build something better, more effective, more lasting, and more cognizant of who we are as Americans,” Paul said.
