Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s proposed reforms to government surveillance programs:

“I am pleased the President has realized what I and many others have known for some time: the government’s dragnet collection and storage of telephone and electronic data breaches the basic privacy rights of the American people.

“I introduced the Government Surveillance Transparency Act because the American people should have the right to know what kind of information the government is collecting from them. I have cosponsored other legislation to limit the use of surveillance programs and give proper consideration to privacy and civil liberties.

“The President’s proposed reforms address many, but not all of the concerns I have with government surveillance. Congress must not continue to rely on a ‘trust us’ attitude toward the administration. We need to enact tough new laws that protect Americans’ right to privacy and institute strict oversight to make sure that this and future administrations do not abuse their powers.”