DPI, ACLU, and FreedomWorks Oppose Amendment to NDAA

July 20, 2020–Due Process Institute, the American Civil Liberties Union, and FreedomWorks sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives opposing a proposed amendment to the  William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6395). This amendment seeks to add the unrelated Corporate Transparency Act of 2019 to this appropriations package for the Department of Defense. The provisions of this amendment raise serious concerns regarding privacy and the unreasonable use of criminal penalties. Five new federal crimes would be created for first-time paperwork violations, using vague terms and complicated reporting regimes that are likely to trap many small business owners and nonprofit groups attempting to faithfully comply with complex laws.