For Immediate Release, 4/20/2004
Sanders Calls on Congress to Rework Patriot Act, Not Give President Rubber-Stamp Approval
WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Bernard Sanders (I-VT), a leading advocate for reforming the Patriot Act and lead sponsor of legislation that would restore pre-Patriot Act protections to libraries, bookstores and their patrons, today called on President Bush to end his pro-Patriot Act tour and instead rework those portions of the Patriot Act that most threaten Americans' civil liberties. The President spoke today in New York to promote the USA Patriot Act and ask for its "sunset" provisions to be removed.
Sanders said, If we have learned anything so far from the 9-11 commission, it is that we need better and more efficient communication between our law enforcement and intelligence agencies. If all the Patriot Act did was to enhance the sharing of information between federal law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community in a responsible way then there would be no controversy surrounding it. But the reality that President Bush doesn't talk about is that the Patriot Act unnecessarily invades the privacy of innocent Americans. The federal government does not need the power to look over the collective shoulders of the American people to see what they are reading. And this is just one of the Patriot Act provisions that is ripe for abuse. There is no doubt that we must be diligent to protect our citizens from another terrorist attack. But, the threat of terrorism should not be used as an excuse for the government to intrude on our basic constitutional rights.
Nationwide, 282 communities, representing over 49 million people, including the state legislatures of Vermont, Maine, Hawaii and Alaska, have passed resolutions calling for changes to the Patriot Act. Prominent conservative and progressive organizations as well as members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have also come out in opposition to various sections of the Patriot Act.
Sanders' legislation, H.R. 1157 would exempt library and bookstore files and records from Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which gives the government broad access to business records without the evidence traditionally required to acquire a search warrant. Sanders is also a lead supporter of legislation known as the SAFE Act. This legislation would narrow five of the most troubling provisions of the Patriot Act including one which allows the FBI to search someone's home or office without notifying them until weeks or even months later - in criminal cases, including cases having nothing to do with terrorism.
Sanders concluded, Not only is the President asking for a rubber-stamp approval of all expiring provisions of the Patriot Act, he actually wants to expand his powers. In times like these, we must be even more vigilant in protecting the cherished values which make our country great.
http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20040420145152.asp
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