Showdown over Section 215
It's happening a little sooner than we expected, but the showdown over Section 215 is coming up next week. Lord knows we can't count on Sodrel to buck the administration, but at least he won't be able to say he never heard anything from his constituents.
On Tuesday, June 14, or Wednesday, June 15, Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is expected to try again to pass his Freedom to Read Amendment, when the House of Representatives is due to consider the House Commerce, Justice, State (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which funds the Justice Department. The Sanders amendment would cut off funds for bookstore and library searches under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act.
There's no time to waste: The American Booksellers Association urges you to contact your representative immediately. Speak out strongly in support of the Freedom to Read Amendment. Please e-mail, fax, or call your member of Congress now! Tell them that Section 215 threatens free speech for all Americans. Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act eliminates several important safeguards that prevent law enforcement officials in foreign intelligence investigations from engaging in fishing expeditions in bookstore and library records. FBI agents can search the bookstore or library records of anyone who they believe may have information relevant to a terrorism or espionage investigation, including people who are not suspected of committing a crime.
ABA strongly recommends that you make calls to your representative's Washington and district offices. Contact information is easily available through the House of Representatives website, http://www.house.gov.
In 2004, when Rep. Sanders joined Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) in introducing the Freedom to Read Amendment to the CSJ Appropriations Bill, the House voted in favor of the bill; however, House leadership succeeded in forcing enough members to switch their votes to create a tie, thereby killing the measure.
This year, ABA believes there is a good chance to win the vote. There are 126 co-sponsors of Sanders' Freedom to Read Protection Act, which restores the safeguards for bookstore and library records that were eliminated by the Patriot Act. Once again, many members of Congress who are not co-sponsors are expected to support Sanders. ABA hopes that the widespread criticism that was directed against the House leadership's tactics last year will act as a restraining force this year and members will vote their conscience.
Act now! Your help in this fight has brought us this far, and now victory is within sight. E-mail, fax, and call your rep today!
On Tuesday, June 14, or Wednesday, June 15, Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is expected to try again to pass his Freedom to Read Amendment, when the House of Representatives is due to consider the House Commerce, Justice, State (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which funds the Justice Department. The Sanders amendment would cut off funds for bookstore and library searches under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act.
There's no time to waste: The American Booksellers Association urges you to contact your representative immediately. Speak out strongly in support of the Freedom to Read Amendment. Please e-mail, fax, or call your member of Congress now! Tell them that Section 215 threatens free speech for all Americans. Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act eliminates several important safeguards that prevent law enforcement officials in foreign intelligence investigations from engaging in fishing expeditions in bookstore and library records. FBI agents can search the bookstore or library records of anyone who they believe may have information relevant to a terrorism or espionage investigation, including people who are not suspected of committing a crime.
ABA strongly recommends that you make calls to your representative's Washington and district offices. Contact information is easily available through the House of Representatives website, http://www.house.gov.
In 2004, when Rep. Sanders joined Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) in introducing the Freedom to Read Amendment to the CSJ Appropriations Bill, the House voted in favor of the bill; however, House leadership succeeded in forcing enough members to switch their votes to create a tie, thereby killing the measure.
This year, ABA believes there is a good chance to win the vote. There are 126 co-sponsors of Sanders' Freedom to Read Protection Act, which restores the safeguards for bookstore and library records that were eliminated by the Patriot Act. Once again, many members of Congress who are not co-sponsors are expected to support Sanders. ABA hopes that the widespread criticism that was directed against the House leadership's tactics last year will act as a restraining force this year and members will vote their conscience.
Act now! Your help in this fight has brought us this far, and now victory is within sight. E-mail, fax, and call your rep today!
posted by All4Word at 2:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home