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Civil-Rights-and-Civil-Liberties

Support H. R. 3845: Amend the PATRIOT Act!

Posted on Tuesday November 3, 2009

Tell your Representatives to support security AND freedom

The Arab American Institute (AAI) strongly supports H. R. 3845, the USA PATRIOT Amendments Act of 2009, a bill introduced by Congressmen John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Bobby Scott (D-VA) and co-sponsored by Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-TN), Jane Harman (D-CA), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) and Henry Johnson (D-GA).

H. R. 3845 addresses the most controversial provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act, due to expire at the end of 2009, by reforming expanded powers of search and seizure and increased domestic surveillance. These practices have proved to be ineffective and unreasonable, fostering mistrust between communities and law enforcement, while steadily eroding civil liberties in the name of national security.

On October 6, we urged you to ask your senators to support the JUSTICE Act amendments, proposed by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), to ensure reasonable notification of searches, mechanisms of judicial oversight, restored accountability and respect for civil liberties. The final version of the bill that passed through the Senate included an alternative set of amendments and fails to offer meaningful PATRIOT Act reform.

As the debate moves to the House, AAI will continue to provide updates as the process unfolds—but we need your help! Contact your congressman and let them know you support a revised PATRIOT Act that ensures protection of our civil liberties and keeps America secure.

Take Action!

Write your members of Congress and ask them to support H.R. 3845—a bill that prevents expanded powers of surveillance, limits excessive collection of personal data; and revises current policies on charitable giving to organizations abroad
CLICK HERE NOW to send a letter to your Representative!

Thank Congressmen John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Bobby Scott (D-VA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Jane Harman (D-CA), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) and Henry Johnson (D-GA) for their efforts on PATRIOT Act reform