Elise Sugarman

By Elise Sugarman On June 2, one day after the Patriot Act expired, the Senate passed the USA Freedom Act to renew three parts of the Patriot Act, including the controversial Section 215. Despite keeping the section which allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to require all professionals and companies, including doctors, universities, restaurants, etc., to share their customer and/or clients’ records, the legislation ended the National Security Agency’s (NSA) phone collection program.

By Elise Sugarman On June 11, Senator Lindsey Graham introduced a Senate version of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S. 1553). This bill places a federal ban on abortions 20 weeks post-fertilization and was passed in the House in May by a vote of 242-184. In the Senate, Senator Graham’s bill currently has 45 co-sponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. With his support, it is possible this bill could be put on the legislative calendar.