Issues

Civil-Rights-and-Civil-Liberties

Take action: reform the Patriot Act

By AAI
Posted on Friday October 2, 2009

Call or write your senator to say you support a bill that will keep us safe AND protect civil liberties.

The Issue:

Three controversial provisions of the USA Patriot Act slated to sunset at the end of 2009 are currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. The provisions include:

the authorizations for roving wiretaps;

the “lone wolf” measure;

and the business records provision, commonly referred to as the “library” provision.

U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have introduced the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act to reform these controversial provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act, as well as revise the 2008 FISA Amendments Act and other surveillance authorities.

The important reform elements included in the JUSTICE Act are necessary to both protect constitutional rights and keep our country strong and secure. We ask that these amendments be added to any legislation reforming the USA PATRIOT Act.

CLICK HERE NOW TO SEND A LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR!

RESOURCES:

Read coalition letter signed by AAI to Chairman Patrick Leahy (PDF)

For background information see the September 19, 2009 article from the New York Times, “Battle Looms the Patriot Act”

NPR has a great analysis: “The Patriot Act: Key Controversies“

For more information about the reforms included in the JUSTICE Act, visit Senator Russ Feingold’s website

For background on the USA PATRIOT Act, read Dr. James Zogby’s June 10, 2005 testimony to the U. S. House of Representative’s Judiciary Committee

Take Action:

A) Write your members of Congress telling them that you support a bill that will keep us safe and protect civil liberties.

B) Please call the following members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and urge their support for the reforms included in the JUSTICE Act

Charles Schumer (D-New York): 202-224-6542

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota): 202-224-3244

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin): 202-224-5653

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California): 202-224-3841

Sen.Ted Kaufmann (D-Delaware): 202-224-5042

C) Write to thank Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) for their efforts in reforming the USA PATRIOT Act.