[Libs-Or] Quick Action Alert: Ask Representatives to Vote for theSanders-Otter-Conyers Amendment

[Wyma Rogers]

Here is a chance to call your congressional representative and ask them
to support an amendment to the Appropriations Bill for Commerce, Justice
, State and Jucidiary.  The Sanders-Otter-Conyers Amendment is based on
the Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003, HR 1157, authored by
Sanders.  Representatives Blumenauer, DeFazio and Hooley have already
signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, so asking them to vote for the
amendment is asking them to support the bill in this format.
Representatives David Wu and Greg Walden should know of your concerns as
well.

A summary from the Washington Office of ALA is below.  To find fax
numbers and contact information for your House member, go
to www.house.gov.  For more information on this amendment, contact Lynne
Bradley at the ALA Washington Office at (800) 941-8478 or
lbradley at alawash.org. 

Wyma Rogers

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-member-forum at ala.org [mailto:owner-member-forum at ala.org]On
Behalf Of Don Wood
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 1:54 PM



ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 12, Number 66
July 21, 2003

In This Issue: Urgent Action Alert: Ask Representatives to Vote for
the
Sanders-Otter-Conyers Amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State and
Judiciary Appropriations Bill of 2004

URGENT ACTION ALERT:  Library supporters are asked to immediately call
your Representatives to vote for the Sanders-Otter-Conyers Amendment
to
the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations Bill of
2004.
A House vote could come at anytime beginning this evening, July 21st. 

Ask your Congressional Representatives to support the amendment which
is a version of H.R. 1157, the Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003.

Like H.R. 1157, the Sanders-Otter-Conyers Amendment would be enacted
as
soon as possible.  Capitol Hill Switchboard Number is (202) 224-3121.  

If possible, please follow-up your phone call with a fax to your
Representative's office. 
Talking Points for your call or fax: 
* Like the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157) sponsored by
Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the Sanders-Otter-Conyers Amendment
would restore legal standards and warrant procedures for
investigations
of libraries and bookstores which were in place before passage of the
USA PATRIOT Act. H.R. 1157 has the bipartisan support of 129
co-sponsors.
* Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act severely expands the scope of
materials the FBI can access with a warrant from the government's
secret
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance ACT or "FISA" court. This section
gives the FBI the power to search for any "tangible things (including
books, records, papers, documents, and other items)" in any location
without having to show "probable cause."
* Many people across the country, including librarians and
booksellers,
are concerned about the "chilling effect" of this legislation, which
encourages users to self-censor their reading choices. Three state
legislatures, 44 state library associations, and 137 cities and towns
representing nearly 17 million people have passed resolutions
expressing
their concerns with Section 215 and other specific provisions of the
USA
PATRIOT Act.
* Passage of this amendment would continue to allow the FBI to use all
constitutionally sanctioned means to obtain warrants and criminal
subpoenas to access library and bookstore records pertinent to
investigations related to terrorism or criminal acts.