FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged both the House of
Representatives and the Senate to adopt modest, but necessary changes before
voting on reauthorization of the controversial Patriot Act. The Senate is
expected to vote on legislation to reauthorize the 2001 anti-terrorism law on
Wednesday; the House is expected to vote on an amendment to their
reauthorization bill this week.
"Congress still has the chance to address some of the law’s shortcomings, and
it must," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative
Office. "The debate to better balance Americans’ basic freedoms and security
will continue no matter what happens this week. With the National Security
Agency’s illegal and warrantless domestic spying program still ongoing,
Americans will remain vigilant in their efforts to speak out against President
Bush’s authorization of this unconstitutional activity."
Although cosmetic changes were included in the reauthorization bill,
including allowing for challenges to section 215 and an explicit right to
counsel, these changes are saddled with pro-administration standards. The ACLU
continues to be concerned about broadened scope of secret search powers. Last
year, the Washington Post reported that tens of thousands of National
Security Letters (NSLs) have been issued by the FBI for Americans' private
records.
Many of the search powers expanded by the Patriot Act can be used in
investigations to gather records that are not about suspected foreign terrorists
or Americans conspiring with them, allowing the FBI top gather innocent
Americans’ financial and internet transactions as well as medical and other
sensitive records in "fishing expeditions." The ACLU expressed hope that crucial
amendments to make modest changes to the Patriot Act, sponsored by Senators Russ
Feingold (D-WI), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Pat Leahy (D-VT), would be allowed an
up-or-down vote.
Support for similar changes have come from a diverse coalition of groups.
Since the Patriot Act’s passage, the ACLU has worked with bipartisan allies to
bring the legislation in line with the Constitution by restoring much needed
checks and balances. Joining the efforts of former Congressman Bob Barr’s
Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances, the ACLU stood shoulder to shoulder
with the American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, and others.
Also, over 400 communities nationwide have passed pro-civil liberties
resolutions urging Congress to make modest but commonsense reforms to the
Patriot Act. Such resolutions have passed in towns from coast to coast and
statewide in Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and, most
recently, California. The total number of Americans represented by these
resolutions is nearly 100 million, and the resolutions send a clear message to
Congress that ordinary Americans oppose unchecked government power.
"The Patriot Act debate has come a long way, but there is still more that
needs to be done to protect the rights of ordinary Americans," said Lisa Graves,
ACLU Senior Counsel for Legislative Strategy. "It is clear that there is
building skepticism about the administration's approach to national security and
civil liberties, and the ACLU and its bipartisan allies will continue to speak
out in defense of all Americans’ fundamental civil liberties and constitutional
rights."
To read the ACLU’s letter to the Senate urging opposition to the
Patriot Act reauthorization bill, go to:
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/24170leg20060215.html
