--- From: "Chris Finan" <chrisat_private> To: "Declan McCullagh" <declanat_private> Subject: Urgent action needed to pass Sanders-Otter-Conyers amendment Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 11:56:36 -0400 Declan, The amendment to cut off Justice Department funding for bookstore and library searches under Section 215 may be on the floor of the House as early as today. I'm attaching an update of the action alert that we sent out last week. Any help you can give in getting this around would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Chris To: Book and library community From: Chris Finan, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression Re: Sanders-Otter-Conyers amendment The U.S. House of Representatives will vote as early as today on an amendment that cuts off Justice Department funding for searches of bookstore and library records under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will offer the measure as an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations Bill of 2004. It is co-sponsored by John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID). The House has never voted on a proposal to limit the Patriot Act. The vote is expected to be very close. It is urgent that you contact your Congress member. Because we don't know precisely when the measure will be brought up on the floor, it is also critical to reach your representative as early in the week as possible. For maximum effectiveness, call your representative's Washington office and tell whoever answers the phone that you are calling to urge their boss to vote "yes" on "the Sanders-Otter-Conyers amendment to the Commerce, Justice and State appropriations bill." (There is no bill number yet.) Then, immediately follow up by faxing a note containing the same message on your letterhead. If you need contact information for your Congress member, you can use the search aid on the House Web site, http://www.house.gov. You can also call ABFFE at (212) 587-4025 between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (EDT). Section 215 has created a dangerous chilling effect on First Amendment rights by giving the FBI the power to secretly search the bookstore and library records of anyone it believes may have information relevant to a foreign intelligence investigation. In March, Sanders introduced the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157) to restore the protections for customer privacy eliminated by the Patriot Act. The bill has gained wide support and is co-sponsored by 129 House members. However, the House leadership is refusing to hold a hearing on H.R. 1157. The Sanders-Otter-Conyers amendment will give supporters of the bill an opportunity to achieve its purpose through the appropriations process. Thank you for acting quickly! ________________________________ Chris Finan, president American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) 139 Fulton St., Suite 302 New York, NY 10038 telephone, (212) 587-4025 fax, (212) 587-2436 http://www.abffe.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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