Lynch: 'vital' tools to lapse unless U.S. Congress extends surveillance program

[May 28, 2015]  (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Wednesday said some "vital and noncontroversial" tools used to keep Americans safe would lapse if Congress does not act to keep surveillance powers from expiring on June 1.

The Senate last week failed to advance bills that would revamp or temporarily extend programs that let U.S. spy agencies collect telephone "metadata."

"Without action from the Senate, we will experience a serious lapse in our ability to protect the American people," Lynch said on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Julia Edwards; Writing by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Will Dunham)

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