FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged
Congress to make modest, but meaningful changes to restore checks and balances
to the Patriot Act as the House extended the deadline for certain provisions of
the law to "sunset" or expire. On a voice vote, the House extended the
expiration date to March 10, 2006. The Senate is expected to adopt the same
measure.
The following can be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson,
Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office "Congress must use the next six weeks to reform the invasive
powers expanded by the Patriot Act to better protect the privacy and liberty of
ordinary and innocent Americans. The conference report as adopted by the House
fails to honor the promises of our Constitution. The issue isn't the length of
the extension; it's about making commonsense, but needed, reforms to the law.
"The White House and its allies must support better safeguards
in the Patriot Act. More than 400 communities nationwide, and people from all
parts of the political spectrum, have voiced their support for these necessary
reforms. The privacy of Americans remains in great peril, especially following
revelations that the president has directed the National Security Agency to
engage in warrantless, illegal domestic surveillance. Congress must respect the
rule of law and take steps to better protect the privacy and freedom of innocent
Americans."
For more on the ACLU's concerns with the Patriot Act, go
to:
http://www.reformthepatriotact.org
