The Amash–Conyers Amendment was a proposal to end the "NSA's blanket collection of Americans' telephone records", sponsored by Justin Amash and John Conyers.

L. 114–23 (text) (PDF)) is a U.S. law enacted on June 2, 2015 that restored in modified form several provisions of the Patriot Act, which had expired the day before.

[6] The bill's stated purpose is: "To rein in the dragnet collection of data by the National Security Agency (NSA) and other government agencies, increase transparency of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), provide businesses the ability to release information regarding FISA requests, and create an independent constitutional advocate to argue cases before the FISC.

It "provides that the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution shall not be construed to allow any U.S. government agency to search the phone records of Americans without a warrant based on probable cause.

If enacted as law, they would prohibit the state governments from co-operating with the National Security Agency, whose mass surveillance efforts are seen as unconstitutional by the proposals' proponents.

Director Clapper continues to hold his position despite lying to Congress under oath about the existence of bulk data collection programs in March 2013.

Asking Director Clapper, and other federal intelligence officials who misrepresented programs to Congress and the courts, to report to you on needed reforms ... is not a credible solution."

[22] Senator Ron Wyden publicly addressed the situation, saying:[23][24] Let me start by saying that the men and women of America's intelligence agencies are overwhelmingly dedicated professionals, and they deserve to have leadership that is trusted by the American people.

Justice Department officials testified that Section 215 of the Patriot Act is analogous to grand jury subpoena authority, and that deceptive statement was made on multiple occasions.

He observed that "totalitarian states like East Germany offered a cautionary tale of what could happen when vast unchecked surveillance turned citizens into informers and persecuted people for what they said in the privacy of their own homes."

And companies will be able to make more disclosures about government data requests, including on National Security Letters, which will no longer be secret "indefinitely.

""[26] The Washington Post noted that "the changes he announced will allow [the NSA] to continue — or expand — the collection of personal data from billions of people around the world, Americans and foreign citizens alike.

"[25] Senator Rand Paul criticized the remarks, saying:[27] While I am encouraged the President is addressing the NSA spying program because of pressure from Congress and the American people, I am disappointed in the details.

The American people should not expect the fox to guard the hen house.Geoff Neale stated on behalf of the Libertarian Party:[28][29] The only way to limit government intrusion into our lives is to eliminate the functions that have little to do with defending individual rights within our borders.

If government were restricted only to acting on its one legitimate function — protecting individual rights — 95 percent of government operations would cease to exist.The Electronic Frontier Foundation and The Day We Fight Back released a report card"[30] of President Obama's speech on NSA reform: The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) is an independent agency within the executive branch.