Courtney statement on phone and internet surveillance programs

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today issued the following statement:

"I have serious concerns about the telephone and internet surveillance programs recently revealed in the media. As someone who has repeatedly opposed legislation to expand the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the long-term extension of the USA PATRIOT Act because of my concerns about the scale of government surveillance efforts and the need for increased oversight, I am troubled about the scope of these activities.

"I strongly support robust Congressional and public scrutiny of these programs to ensure that our surveillance efforts strike the right balance between our need for security and our right to privacy. As Congress returns next week, I look forward to briefings and hearings to learn more about these programs, the use of data collected through them, and what safeguards are in place to protect the privacy of innocent Americans."