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ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 12, Number 92
October 6, 2003

In This Issue: Action Needed: SAFE Act

Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), along with
Senators Crapo (R-ID), Feingold (D-WI), Sununu (R-R-NH), Wyden (D-OR),
and Bingaman (D-NM) have introduced S. 1709, The Security and Freedom
Ensured Act of 2003 (the "SAFE" Act).

This bill would curb the overly-broad powers allowed to law enforcement
by the USA PATRIOT Act. The legislation has bipartisan support,
including the support of some conservative Republicans as well as
Democrats and moderates. This important piece of legislation would amend
the USA PATRIOT Act in the following ways:

The bill would:

* Restore privacy protections for library and bookseller records,
allowing law enforcement to obtain the records of individuals only when
"there are specific and articulable facts giving reason to believe that
the person to whom the records pertain is a foreign power or an agent of
a foreign power,"

* Exempt libraries from "national security letters" which are
non-judicial subpoenas issued internally in the FBI that allow the FBI
to get e-mail and Internet "transactional records,"

* Add oversight provisions to the Justice Department's request for
records from libraries and bookstores,

* Extend the sunset provision of the USA PATRIOT Act , and

* Provide other civil liberties protections.


Action Needed:
This bill is the latest in several bills addressing library concerns.
(To see the other, please go to http://www.ala.org/patriotfix) It is
very important that we garner as much support as possible for this bill,
and the others. Please make an effort to contact your Senators when they
are in their home offices this week during the Senate recess. It is
especially important that we continue to gather the support of
Republican Senators. Capitol Switchboard number is: 202-224-3121. With
your grassroots efforts we can make significant changes to the USA
PATRIOT Act.





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