June 9, 2014
Promoting Email Privacy in the Tech Community
Support for the Email Privacy Act continues to grow. I visited Silicon Valley in California last week to discuss my legislation with technology entrepreneurs who face issues of government intrusion to customers' stored data on a daily basis. At a roundtable with Engine Advocacy, a tech entrepreneurship research and advocacy group, I heard first-hand experiences of government agencies, like the SEC and IRS, accessing consumers’ documents without a warrant. I also met with the CEO of Dropbox, as well as executives from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Lyft, and eBay. Many American tech companies fear competitiveness in the global marketplace as customers are weary of government agencies accessing their digital storage when using U.S. based companies.
My bill, H.R. 1852, the Email Privacy Act, would extend Fourth Amendment rights to digital correspondence and keep government agencies from freely accessing data without a warrant.
Hosting a roundtable with Engine Advocacy and tech entrepreneurs.
Email Privacy Gains Momentum
Recently, my bill, the Email Privacy Act, has gained a great deal of attention, as it was spotlighted by both the
Washington Post and the
Hill. You can read more by clicking the articles below.
E-mail privacy hasn’t been updated in 28 years. This could be the bill to do it.
"Our work continues to bring this issue to a boil," said Yoder. "Our effort is to encourage them to try to support our legislation or come to resolution on a committee bill in the 113th Congress."
With four more cosponsors, Yoder could request the bill be brought to the House floor in an expedited fashion, bypassing the Judiciary Committee. And in Thursday's Google Hangout, Yoder and Democratic cosponsor Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) pressed hard for that option.
Yoder: Agencies seizing emails is ‘much worse’ than NSA spying
“This is much worse in that they’re actually reading the emails,” he said.
Yoder’s bill, the Email Privacy Act, would update the ECPA to require law enforcement officials to obtain a warrant before accessing digital communications including emails.
Currently, officials can access any email that has been stored for more than six months without a warrant.
Despite the threat it poses to their privacy, “most Americans aren’t aware of” the 1986 law, Yoder said.
“It doesn’t have the appeal that the Snowden issue has,” he said, referring to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, whose leaks first publicized the agency’s controversial surveillance programs.
The bill does, however, have wide support in the House, Yoder said.
Remembering D-Day 70 Years Later
Shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944, 70 years ago, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne, Canadian, and British units-conducted a night jump behind enemy lines, just hours before the coastal landings.
Our own Paul Rogers from Overland Park, Easy Company / 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was among nearly 13,000 men who parachuted into France that night; the first wave of the assault that would occur as part of Operation Overlord. The men who fought and died in places known to us now as Gold Beach, Juno Beach, and Omaha Beach set the stage for the defeat of Hitler and his army in Europe.
The victory of the Battle of Normandy came at a great expense; of the nearly 21,000 American soldiers killed during the period June 6th through August 1944, nearly half of those were killed on D-Day.
I am deeply grateful for the service of men like Paul Rogers, who were willing to answer our nation’s call; garnering the distinction of our greatest generation. As a nation, we owe our nations’ veterans a debt of gratitude that simply cannot be repaid.
"Ok, let's go," ordered Eisenhower as he launched Operation Overload in 1944.
Village Square Chapter comes to Kansas City
It was a pleasure to join my colleague and friend Emanuel Cleaver II at the launch for the flagship chapter of Village Square in Kansas City, a non-profit and non-partisan public educational forum focusing on matters of local, state, and national importance at UMKC on Wednesday. This organization, anchoring its headquarters in KC, will promote civil discourse and factual accuracy in civic and political debate and I'm proud to join Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn and Mary Bloch in partnership with UMKC in this national effort. I enjoyed discussing the importance of personal friendships across the political aisle and how they improve the ability to get things done in the increasingly polarized environment of Washington.
Thank you to Ambassador Allan Katz, the founder of Village Square and a member of the UMKC faculty, for having us and leading this effort for civic dialogue.
To read more about the launch of Kansas City's Village Square, click here or on the image above.
Ash Grove Employee Town Hall
I enjoyed meeting Ash Grove Cement employees in Overland Park for a town hall meeting, where we discussed a number of issues facing Congress last Thursday. I received many questions on the need for a comprehensive transportation plan along with entitlement reform and on the economic impact of regulations coming out of Washington. I also spoke about how we can enact policies to foster job growth and create government efficiencies by removing the weight of taxes, debt, and big federal government mandates on our economy.
Addressing Ash Grove Cement employees during a town hall at their offices in Overland Park.
Mid America Rehabilitation Hospital Celebrates 25th Anniversary
It was great to join Mid America Rehabilitation Hospital in Overland Park as they celebrated 25 years of providing inpatient and outpatient therapy to over 100,000 patients in the Kansas City area. Congratulations to Troy Dedecker, CEO, and his entire staff on reaching this milestone. I wish them all the best as they continue to provide excellent health care services over the next 25 years.
Joining Tracey Osborne, CEO of the Overland Park Chamber, Troy Dedecker, CEO of Mid American Regional Hospital and Kelly Patton, Clinical Rehab Liaison for Mid American Regional Hospital, at the 25th anniversary event in Overland Park.
Taxpayer Hero
I am honored to be named a Taxpayer Hero by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. As your Congressman, it is my job to stand up for the taxpayers from the Third District of Kansas in Washington. I look forward to continuing the efforts to rein in spending and decrease our national debt.
Upcoming Staff Community Office Hours in Gardner
My staff can assist you from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday in my Overland Park office. They can help with any issues or concerns, as well as provide assistance with federal agencies and programs including, Veterans' Affairs, Medicare, Social Security, Passports, and Visas. My staff also holds Community Staff Office Hours throughout the district. If you are unable to visit my office, please consider coming to the following location if it is more convenient for you:
Tuesday, June 10th
Johnson County Library - Gardner Branch
137 East Shawnee Street
Gardner, KS
3:30-5:00 p.m.
For Johnson County Library's Gardner Branch address, click here or on the image above.
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