| Whereas: | H.R. 6729 purports to “fight human trafficking” much like the so-called “PATRIOT” Act claimed to “fight terrorism,” it actually EXPANDS warrantless surveillance and data collection powers; and |
| Whereas: | The House of Representatives fast-tracked H.R. 6729, which copies language from Section 314 of the so-called “PATRIOT” Act and broadened the range of customers’ personal information that the government may unilaterally demand without probable cause or warrant; and |
| Whereas: | The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees Americans the right to be “secure … against unreasonable searches and seizures;” and |
| Whereas: | H.R. 6729 poses a significant risk for due process violations as individuals may find themselves effectively blocked from participating in the financial system with no recourse against banks choosing to close their accounts; and |
| Whereas: | Nearly 17 years after passage of the original “PATRIOT” Act, Congress should be winding down the Surveillance State, not expanding it; |
| Therefore: | I insist you vote “NO” on H.R. 6729, or any other bill that would expand the Deep State’s warrantless surveillance power and invite further abuses of our civil liberties. |