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Support Less-Bad PATRIOT Act Renewal
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Progressive Portal
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Aug 29, 2005 00:21 PDT
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BOTH HOUSES VOTED TO RENEW PATRIOT ACT, BUT SENATE VERSION
NOT AS BAD; URGE SUPPORT FOR ITS VERSION, PLUS FUTURE CHANGES
[From the Friends Committee on National Legislation
<http://www.fcnl.org> and the American Civil Liberties Union
<http://www.aclu.org>]
Negotiators from the House and the Senate are meeting before Congress
reconvenes after Labor Day (25 Sep 2005) to finalize legislation
reauthorizing key sections of the USA PATRIOT Act - sections that
provide authority for government seizure of library records, wiretaps,
secret searches, and other intrusions on civil liberties. President Bush
hopes to sign this legislation on September 11.
Negotiators from the House and the Senate are meeting before Congress
reconvenes after Labor Day (25 Sep 2005) to finalize legislation
reauthorizing key sections of the USA PATRIOT Act - sections that
provide authority for government seizure of library records, wiretaps,
secret searches, and other intrusions on civil liberties. President Bush
hopes to sign this legislation on September 11.
Under the Act's "sunset" provision, 14 sections of the original Act
would have expired without congressional action on Dec. 31, 2005. The
Senate and the House have each approved very different versions of
legislation to reauthorize the Act. Although the Senate reauthorization
measure (S. 1389) still falls short of full restoration of
constitutional civil liberties eroded by the PATRIOT Act, the Senate
version is far superior to that of the House and provides momentum for
future legislation.
Your senators and representative have one more opportunity to influence
the negotiations on this important legislation.
Though the ACLU is limited by an FBI gag order, it recently disclosed
the existence of a sealed suit on behalf of a member of the American
Library Association challenging the constitutionality of "national
security letter" authority of the government to demand records without a
court order, which was expanded by the PATRIOT Act.
The ACLU's client, which maintains records about books borrowed by
library patrons and about their Internet usage, was ordered to produce
records without any judicial review.
If you think secret searches and the powers of the PATRIOT Act go too
far, take action today. Urge your elected officials to protect the gains
made in the Senate version of legislation to renew the Act.
The Senate version, though not perfect, puts some sensible judicial
oversight on law enforcement's record searches.
The ACLU's client wants to tell the U.S. public about the dangers of
allowing the FBI to demand library records without court approval. But
the PATRIOT Act is gagging the client from participating in the crucial
public debate about these issues.
If the ACLU's client could speak, it could explain why Congress needs to
reform the Act to protect privacy and civil liberties. The ACLU has gone
to Court to get the gag lifted before Congress votes. Right now, it's up
to you to tell Congress what the ACLU's client cannot.
The Senate is moving in the right direction with legislation - agreed to
unanimously - that would add some needed reforms. Though not perfect,
the gains made in the Senate bill are an improvement over the measure
passed by the House of Representatives.
ALSO: On 8 Sep 2005, the ACLU will premiere "Beyond the Patriot Act,"
produced by the ACLU and Robert Greenwald ("Unconstitutional,"
"Outfoxed"). The power of TV to motivate will combine with the power of
the Internet to activate and the power of people to make a difference.
By hosting a Community Premiere of this ground-breaking TV show in your
own home, you can help lead the push to reform the PATRIOT Act while
there is still time. A Congressional vote is expected in Sep 2005 on
expansions and revisions to this flawed law, passed in haste just days
after the 9/11 attacks.
Take Action
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1. Urge your Representative and Senators to press the lawmakers
responsible for reconciling competing versions of the PATRIOT Act
renewal to protect gains made in the Senate version (S. 1389), by
sending a message at one of the following sites:
FCNL Action Page:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=7947621&type=CO
Or ACLU Action Page:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=TSDjWzoinFMHFWXyquSnOA
2. Host a house party on 8 Sept 2005 to watch the premiere of the ACLU's
program "Beyond the Patriot Act":
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=q4MkyPDhY7i1b-ZKb-H5vw
More Information
-----------------------------------
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=18957&c=262
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot/
The Republican newspaper (Springfield, MA) says PATRIOT Act goes too
far:
http://www.masslive.com/editorials/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1125128815178700.xml&coll=1
Text of the Act:
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html
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