--- February 10, 2004 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, Many of our constituents have contacted our Congressional offices concerned that their privacy rights have been violated by airlines turning over personal consumer information to the federal government without their knowledge or consent. We certainly understand, that after the horrible attacks of September 11, 2001, heightened security is necessary to ensure safe air travel. However, even with the necessary exchange of liberty for security, consumers have the right to know how their private, personal information will be used. Before the Computer-Assisted Passenger Pre-Screening Program (CAPPS II) is implemented, we urge the adoption of a specific policy that makes clear the role of airlines in sharing consumer information with the federal government. Such a policy should articulate what information can be shared by airlines and how such information is to be shared. First, we would anticipate a clear explanation as to the boundaries of any information-sharing between airlines and the federal government. Second, consumers must be clearly informed at the time they purchase their airline tickets as to how their personal information will be used. We look forward to working with you in striking the appropriate balance that ensures the protection of our national security and the protection of our civil liberties, and thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter. Respectfully, John F. Tierney Member of Congress Janice D. Schakowsky Member of Congress Nancy Pelosi House Democratic Leader Sherrod Brown Member of Congress William D. Delahunt Member of Congress Jay Inslee Member of Congress Tammy Baldwin Member of Congress Carolyn B. Maloney Member of Congress Karen McCarthy Member of Congress Edward J. Markey Member of Congress Michael M. Honda Member of Congress Jim McDermott Member of Congress Jose E. Serrano Member of Congress Michael E. Capuano Member of Congress Sam Farr Member of Congress Sheila Jackson Lee Member of Congress John Conyers Jr. Member of Congress Jerrold Nadler Member of Congress Betty McCollum Member of Congress Stephanie Tubbs Jones Member of Congress Jim Turner Member of Congress James P. Moran Member of Congress Melvin L. Watt Member of Congress Gene Green Member of Congress Pete Stark Member of Congress Martin T. Meehan Member of Congress (end) _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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