[Scla-list] FW: Please call NOW to support PATRIOT Act reform!

[Curtis Rogers]

From: Kristin Murphy, American Library Association
[mailto:kmurphy at alawash.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:46 PM
To: Curtis Rogers
Subject: Please call NOW to support PATRIOT Act reform!

 

ADVOCATES ASKED TO CONTACT SENATORS ON JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ASAP

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USA PATRIOT ACT REFORMS BEING DISCUSSED AT JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MARKUP

 

It is critical that library supporters from states with senators on the
Judiciary Committee call them as soon as possible urging reforms to
Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and laws covering national security
letters.  The Senate switchboard number is:  (202) 224-3121  

 

There are two USA PATRIOT Act reform bills pending before the Senate
Judiciary Committee at this time.   The Committee has scheduled a work
session or "markup" of S. 1696, the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act
originally introduced on September 17th by Judiciary Chairman Leahy and
Sens. Cardin and Kaufman.  This bill respects constitutional rights by
increasing judicial review of the use of surveillance authorities that
sweep in U.S. citizens.  The bill also expands public reporting to
ensure that Americans can monitor the use of these authorities.  

[ Leahy statement:  http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200909/092209b.html ]

 

THE MESSAGE:

-       Congress should pass the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of
2009, S. 1692, with key amendments to protect civil liberties based upon
S. 1686, the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism
Efforts (JUSTICE) Act, and,

 

-       Congress should also consider reforms of national security
letters (NSLs) now as legislation on reform and reauthorization of
Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act moves forward.

 

TALKING POINTS:

*	The library community thanks Senator Leahy and the bills's other
sponsors, Senators Cardin (MD-D) , Kaufman (DE-D) and Sanders (VT-I) for
introducing legislation that  makes many needed reforms to Section 215
of the PATRIOT Act; 

*	However, library advocates urge the Judiciary Committee to
consider amendments to S. 1692, based upon provisions in S. 1686, the
Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism Efforts
(JUSTICE) Act; 

*	Intensify oversight of the Section 215 and National Security
Letters provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other laws that limit the
privacy rights of library users, library employees and the general
public, including annual reports by the Department of Justice's
Inspector General. 

*	Guarantee a recipient the right to consult an attorney, the
right to challenge any gag order and due process at the time a Section
215 order or an NSL is served on the recipient;

*	Require the FBI to provide sufficient facts to demonstrate that
a gag order is necessary to protect national security; if authorized,
the gag order should automatically expire at the end of six months
unless the FBI shows good cause to extend the gag order.

	

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee

Patrick J. Leahy, Chairman, D-Vermont

Herb Kohl, D-Wisconsin
Jeff Sessions, Ranking Member, R-Alabama

Dianne Feinstein, D-California
Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah
Russell D. Feingold, D-Wisconsin
Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa
<http://judiciary.senate.gov/about/members.cfm#Grassley> Charles E.
Schumer, D-New York
Jon Kyl, R-Arizona
Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois
Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina
Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Maryland
John Cornyn, R-Texas
Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island
Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma
<http://judiciary.senate.gov/about/members.cfm#Brownback> Amy Klobuchar,
D-Minnesota
Edward E. Kaufman, D-Delaware
Arlen Specter, D-Pennsylvania
Al Franken, D-Minnesota


[For additional background information go to ALA's recent "District
Dispatch" on USA PATRIOT Act reforms at:
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?cat=10 ]

Full bill text for S. 1692 is at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1692.IS:

Full bill text for S. 1686 is at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.01686:

 

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