Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced that his legislation to protect the privacy and civil liberties of law-abiding Americans from the Defense Department’s “Total Information Awareness” (TIA) Program will become law as part of the FY2003 omnibus spending bill. Wyden’s amendment to the bill makes research funding for the program, which is designed to sift through information on citizens’ financial transactions, travel, medical records and other activities, dependent upon a report to Congress on TIA’s privacy and civil liberties implications. It also requires Congressional approval for the deployment of any technology related to the program.

“All across this country, Americans have said that while a vigorous response to terror is necessary, a system designed to spy on Americans in America is not,” said Wyden. “I won’t take a back seat to anyone on the vigorous pursuit of known and suspected terrorists. But neither will I stand by to let the government shine an indiscriminate light into the private lives and dealings of law-abiding citizens. That crosses the line.”

The Wyden amendment, principally cosponsored by Sen. Diane Feinstein (R-Calif.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), requires a report from the Department of Defense outlining plans, costs and scope for the TIA program and its implications on issues of privacy and civil liberties; that initial report is due to Congress 90 days after the enactment of the legislation. Any technology stemming from TIA research may not be deployed without the express consent of Congress. The deployment provision does not apply to lawful foreign intelligence investigations of non-U.S. citizens in the U.S.

Wyden’s amendment received support from a diverse coalition of conservative and liberal groups from the Eagle Forum to the American Civil Liberties Union. It passed unanimously in the Senate last month.

“I believe this amendment was approved as a matter of course – of course Congress should insist on oversight of TIA,” said Wyden. “Of course such a surveillance plan should not be allowed to grow unchecked and unaccountable. Of course it is the duty of Congress to protect the civil liberties and privacy of the people we represent.”

The House and Senate are in the process of approving the final report on the omnibus spending bill. Upon approval, it will move to the President’s desk for his signature.

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