Feingold amendment text URL (was Re: CDT: congressional action call - before Friday morning, October 12, 2001)
Michael Clark
mclark at cdt.org
Thu Oct 11 08:57:57 PDT 2001
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
1634 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006
voice: 202-637-9800 fax: 202-637-0968
mclark at cdt.org http://www.cdt.org/
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