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The House Judiciary Committee voted 25-2 to
approve the "USA Freedom Act," seeking to tighten control of a
program publicly exposed two years ago by former National
Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
The bill would bar the bulk collection of Americans' telephone
records under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act and other
intelligence authorities, and it would increase transparency and
accountability in surveillance programs.
A similar bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
The bills are supported by privacy groups but will run into
opposition in Congress and at the White House.
Democratic President Barack Obama and many lawmakers want to
retain the mass data-collection program as a national security
tool, although they are open to changes.
A vote on the bill could take place in the House as soon as next
month.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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