Senate passes USA Freedom Act, powers of NSA curtailed

Bill ends bulk collection of Americans' phone records

Republican leader Nancy Pelosi said the bipartisan USA Freedom Act overwhelmingly passed by the House provides thoughtful reforms of intelligence gathering tools designed to keep Americans safe. 

Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who voted against the Bill said the USA Freedom Act fails to provide the intelligence agencies with the critical capabilities the country needs to prevent future terrorist attacks against homeland. 

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) welcomed the passage of the Freedom Act. 

"Meaningful surveillance reform has been a top priority for the technology sector. We thank the Senators and Members of Congress who voted to pass this Bill that effectively ends indiscriminate bulk collection of data and brings needed transparency to the process by allowing tech companies to report information about government orders they receive for access to data," said president and CEO Dean Garfield. 

Republican presidential aspirant Senator Marco Rubio voted against the bill, saying the 'USA Freedom Act' weakens US national security by outlawing the very programmes the intelligence community and the FBI have used to protect Americans time and time again.