Feingold amendment text URL (was Re: CDT: congressional action call - before Friday morning, October 12, 2001)

[Michael Clark]

Hi all,

We were on the case. But we did not get a postable copy of the text 
until Thursday morning and it was posted on our site.

A fact sheet on Sen. Feingold's amendments is now available at 
http://www.cdt.org/security/011011feingoldfactsheet.shtml

You can also find out who your Senators are at CDT's site at 
http://www.cdt.org/action/feingold/ or 
http://www.cdt.org/action/contactcongress.shml Michael

>I would -prefer- to read the text for myself too, and I'm pissed off 
>at CDT, EFF, Congressional Record, and you for that matter, for not 
>being on the case earlier.  If it came down to it I think I'd trust 
>CDT EFF et. al. enough -it's not like trusting Ashcroft or Shrub- 
>but of course you're right.
>
>The amendment text is at
>http://www.cdt.org/security/011011s1510feingold.pdf
>
>
>  >
>  > CDT is on the right track, but I'd be hesitant to call my senators and
>  > endorse Feingold's amendments until I knew what they said. The CDT
>  > alert is silent on details. That's a shame, since they could have
>  > easily included a summary of the amendments (which I really will put
>  > online soon, along with their text).
>  >
>  > -Declan
>  >
>  >
>  > On Wed, Oct 10, 2001 at 11:14:37PM -0700, citizenQ wrote:
>  > > Dear Activist:
>  > >
>  > > Things are moving very fast on Capitol Hill.  Legislation to expand
>  > > government surveillance will be considered by the Senate (and
>  > > maybe the House) on Thursday, October 11.
>  > >
>  > > In the Senate, Sen. Russ Feingold is planning to offer amendments
>  > > Thursday morning that will address some of the privacy concerns
>  > > raised by the pending bills, by requiring government surveillance to
>  > > be more focused and subject to meaningful judicial controls.  CDT
>  > > supports the Feingold amendments.
>  > >
>  > > You can make a difference. Call your Senators in Washington right
>  > > away and let them know that you think civil liberties should be part of
>  > > the balance as we move forward to protect our country from terrorism.
>  > > Urge them to support the Feingold privacy amendments
>  > >
>  > > BACKGROUND
>  > >
>  > > Following the horrendous attacks of September 11, it is clear that US
>  > > anti-terrorism efforts need to be improved.  Unfortunately, there has
>  > > been little time to develop a response that is effective and does not
>  > > unnecessarily infringe civil liberties.  Legislation moving quickly
>  > > through Congress involves some fundamental changes in the
>  > > surveillance laws.  Most of the changes are not limited to terrorism
>  > > cases, but concern all crimes and all intelligence investigations.
>  > >
>  > > Among other things, the bills would:
>  > >
>  > > * Allow FBI to seize any and all stored records (medical records,
>  > > educational records, stored e-mail) in intelligence cases without a
>  > > search warrant.
>  > >
>  > > * Allow computer system operators to authorize government
>  > > surveillance without a court order (the computer trespasser
>  > > provision).
>  > >
>  > > * Authorize roving taps in intelligence cases without clear guidelines,
>  > > allowing government to monitor pay phones, library computers, cell
>  > > phones without first determining who is using the device.
>  > >
>  > > * Allow secret searches (searches without notice at the time of the
>  > > search) in all criminal cases.
>  > >
>  > > * Extend government surveillance under minimal standards to broad
>  > > categories of Internet data  - all "routing, addressing and signaling
>  > > information" (the "pen register" provision).
>  > >
>  > > For full background the current civil liberties issues with the bill,
>  > > please see CDT's latest policy post --
>  > > http://www.cdt.org/publications/pp_7.10.shtml
>  > >
>  > > Also, the New York Times on October 10 explained the current
>  > > situation in the Senate and Sen Feingold's concerns--
>  > > http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/10/national/10RIGH.html
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > WHAT YOU CAN DO--MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
>  > >
>  > > 1. Call your your Senators
>  > >
>  > > [www.vote-smart.org can tell you who your sens are (duh)]
>  > >
>  > > Tell the person who answers the phone that you hope your Senator
>  > > will support the Feingold privacy amendment to the terrorism bill, so
>  > > that it adequately protects civil liberties when giving the government
>  > > new surveillance powers.
>  > >
>  > > Use these words if you feel tongue-tied:
>  > >
>  > > Staffer: Hello, Sen. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX office.
>  > >
>  > > You: Hello.  I'm a constituent calling to urge the Senator to support the
>  > > Feingold privacy amendments to the anti-terrorism bill. Government
>  > > needs to fight terrorism, but the bill fails to protect privacy.  I'm
>  > > concerned about the provisions on Internet surveillance and roving
>  > > wiretaps.  I support the Feingold amendments setting clear limits on
>  > > government surveillance.
>  > >
>  > > Staffer: I'll tell the Senator.  Thanks, bye!
>  > >
>  > > 2. Let CDT know how it went! Go to
>  > >    http://www.cdt.org/action/feedback.cgi?membid=casr
>  > >    and use the feedback form to tell us what happened. Or you can
>  > >    send an email back to me at mclark at cdt.org.
>  > >
>  > > 3. Lastly, please forward this message to other individuals interested
>  > >    in protecting privacy and free expression on the Internet. They can
>  > >    find information about their Senators at http://www.cdt.org/action/.
>  > >    But they need to act right away. Forward this message until
>  > >    Friday morning, October 12, 2001.
>  > >
>  > > PLEASE NOTE:  We are asking you to call your Senators in
>  > > Washington because studies have shown that this is the most
>  > > effective way to make a difference over a short period of time.  By the
>  > > time the office reads your email or letter it will probably be too late
>  > > and a call into the district office does not have the same impact when
>  > > the Senator is in Washington.
>  > >
>  > > --
>  > > To subscribe to CDT's Activist Network, sign up at:
>  > >   http://www.cdt.org/join/
>  > >
>  > > If you ever wish to remove yourself from the list, unsubscribe at:
>  > >   http://www.cdt.org/action/unsubscribe.shtml
>  > >
>  > > If you just want to change your address, you should unsubscribe
>  > > yourself and then sign up again or contact: mclark at cdt.org


--
Michael Clark, Webmaster
Center for Democracy and Technology
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voice: 202-637-9800    fax: 202-637-0968
mclark at cdt.org         http://www.cdt.org/
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