December 9, 2005 -- Flawed PATRIOT Act Conference Report Moves Forward. Call your Congressional respresenattive to support true reform.
For more information, go to the National ACLU website at www.aclu.org
PATRIOT Act: Not Quite the Final Frontier
November 21, 2005
With the threat of a filibuster coming from a bi-partisan group of senators led by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), it now appears that there is no deal on the reauthorization of the Patriot Act. According to news reports, Congress has put on the brakes and more discussion and negotiation will occur over the next two weeks.
The progress made by Feingold and the "civil liberties six" would not be possible without the on-going work locally and nationally demonstrating support for PATRIOT Act reform. It is essential that we continue our efforts by contacting Senator Specter, Senator Santorum, and Congressman Weldon,as well as the entire PA Congressional Delegation.
Media coverage on this issue will be essential over the next few weeks. We encourage you to write to your local paper and voice your support for the Senate bill and the progress it makes in creating checks and balances. It is often helpful to respond to positive press, like the recent Lebanon Daily News editorial, as well as countering negative messages.
November 17, 2005
The latest news on the PATRIOT Act indicates that the conference committee has not signed off on the report. Therefore, there is not yet a bill up for vote. But, with the committee buckling to White House pressure, the current version does not look good. It makes virtually all the original PATRIOT Act permanent, creating seven-year sunsets on only three provisions (as opposed to the four-year sunsets recommended by the Senate). The current bill does not even include- the requirement for a connection between any records sought and a suspected terrorist .
If you have not done so already, please contact the PA Congressional Delegation and urge them to vote NO on the PATRIOT Act reauthorization bill. It is extremely important to call not only Senator Specter, but Senator Santorum and your Representatives, as well. There is some indication that Senator Santorum could vote against the reauthorization.
For more information:
Latest Press on the PATRIOT Act
Progress on PATRIOT Act: House Retreats on Sunsets
PA Representative Named to Conference Committee
At long last, there is movement on the PATRIOT Act.
Yesterday, in a promising shift, the House voted by unanimous voice vote to recommend a four year extension on certain PATRIOT Act provisions, as opposed to the ten year extension written into the original House legislation. This includes Section 215, which allows the FBI to exercise “secret search powers” without probable cause.
The House also named its conference committee yesterday. The committee will begin meeting today with the Senate committee to reconcile the House and Senate legislation. Among the conferees is Pennsylvania Representative Curt Weldon (7th Congressional District). If you are in Rep. Weldon’s district, please contact his office and urge him to support the Senate legislation, which restores limited checks and balances.
Contact Representative Weldon
ACLU Press Release
Specter Has Responded; It's Time to Lobby Santorum
Congratulations to all of you for the great work you have been doing to help us lobby for reform of the Patriot Act. We have been heard and well received by Senator Arlen Specter and his staff. Senator Specter is aware of our concerns and he appreciates our words of support and encouragement for his bill that makes several significant changes to the Patriot Act.
So take a moment to feel positive about your lobbying efforts.
And then, it is on to the next important task - helping us convince Senator Santorum to sign on to a “Dear Conferee letter” that is going around the Senate. The “Dear Conferee letter” is a letter to the legislators who are on the conference committee that will work out the final details of the legislation reauthorizing the Patriot Act. The ACLU is working to get as many Senators as possible to sign onto the letter that is asking the conferees to adopt the important reform provisions contained in Senator Specter’s bill.
Our job is to convince Senator Santorum to add his name to the list.
That is why we are now asking you to please call one of Santorum’s district offices or his Washington, D.C. office and voice your support for the Senate bill reauthorizing and reforming the Patriot Act. You can remind the staff person who answers the phone that this is the legislation authored by Senator Specter and that Senator Santorum has already voted for it when it was brought to the floor of the Senate.
Let the staff person know that you would like Senator Santorum to sign onto to the “Dear Conferee letter” being circulated in support of the Senate version of legislation that reauthorizes the expiring sections of the USA Patriot Act. The reforms made in the Senate bill, while not perfect, are needed to start bringing the Patriot Act in line with the Constitution and the system of checks and balances so wisely established by our Founders.
Contact Senator Santorum's office
Read about the safeguards in Specter-Feinstein Bill
Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial: "Patriot Act Follow the Senate's Lead" (9/27/2005)
Statewide Coalition Requests Meeting with Specter
As part of a six week action plan developed at our June 18th PATRIOT Act organizing conference, a broad coalition of more than 25 Pennsylvania organizations have sent a letter to Senator Arlen Specter to request a meeting to discuss the USA Patriot Act. The organizations requesting the meeting include religious groups, a conservative think tank, civil rights and consumer advocates, immigrant service organizations and peace activists.
PATRIOT Act Action Materials:
On June 15, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted the Freedom to Read proposal offered by Representative Bernie Sanders of Vermont. This legislation denies funding for FBI access to library and bookstore records under section 215 of the Patriot Act. A bipartisan majority (238-187) voted for this measure. The ACLU strongly supports the Freedom to Read proposal. Read more...
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