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An Oct. 15, 2013, photo, shows a view of the U.S. Capitol building at dusk in Washington. U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, is calling on colleagues to support legislation to end the National Security Agency's spying programs.

(AP Photo: Evan Vucci)

Representative Justin Amash answered questions from concerned Grand Rapids citizens during a town hall meeting last year meant to answer questions about a possible Syria strike.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Justin Amash didn't mince words in a Facebook post published shortly after President Barack Obama's Friday speech that detailed efforts to curb the National Security Agency's spying capabilities.

Obama outlined a new direction for the NSA and its programs, now requiring intelligence gatherers to gain court approval should they wish to analyze telephone data collected by the agency. The agency also would end the collection program "as it currently exists" but not entirely dismantle it because Obama claims it remains a critical tool for intelligence agencies, according to the Washington Post.

Amash, R-Cascade Township, dismissed Obama's attempt to limit the agency's powers, writing, "Nothing the President said today will end the unconstitutional invasion of Americans' privacy."

"The President said that the era of secret law will continue, that the court decisions that have contorted Congress's limits on surveillance into broad authorizations will remain secret—but the intelligence officials who have executed mass surveillance and lied to Congress will, in their discretion, release some of the rulings as they see fit," Amash wrote.

"Congress must do what the President apparently will not: end the unconstitutional violation of Americans' privacy, stop the suspicionless surveillance of our people, and close the era of secret law."

While Obama calls for a shift in the NSA's handling of its programs, Amash urges an end to it all.

The congressman continues to promote legislation that, if signed into law, would limit the agency's ability to perform communication sweeps. Last month, a federal judge declared the collection of bulk phone records unconstitutional.

The bill, titled "The USA Freedom Act," has garnered almost equal bipartisan support, with 64 Democratic representatives and 60 Republican representatives signing on as cosponsors.

That number is an increase of 22 legislators from about a month ago. Two Michigan U.S. representatives, including Kerry Bentivolio, R-Milford, and John Conyers, D-Detroit, have pledged support.

Andrew Krietz covers breaking and general police/fire news for MLive | The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at akrietz@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.