ABFFE: Call Your Reps on Patriot Act

Robin Blum from over at InMyBook passed along this announcement from American Booksellers Fdn. For Free Expression:

ABFFE Calls on Booksellers: Contact Your House Rep Now!
The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) is
urging members of the book and library communities to contact their
congressional representatives today in support of an amendment that cuts
off Justice Department funding for searches of bookstore and library
records under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Rep. Bernie Sanders
(I-VT) will offer the measure as an amendment to the Commerce, Justice,
State, and Judiciary Appropriations Bill of 2004. The bill, which has no
number yet, is co-sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and C.L.
“Butch” Otter (R-ID).

Robin Blum from over at InMyBook passed along this announcement from American Booksellers Fdn. For Free Expression:

ABFFE Calls on Booksellers: Contact Your House Rep Now!
The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) is
urging members of the book and library communities to contact their
congressional representatives today in support of an amendment that cuts
off Justice Department funding for searches of bookstore and library
records under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Rep. Bernie Sanders
(I-VT) will offer the measure as an amendment to the Commerce, Justice,
State, and Judiciary Appropriations Bill of 2004. The bill, which has no
number yet, is co-sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and C.L.
“Butch” Otter (R-ID).
ABFFE President Chris Finan said, “The House has never voted on a
proposal to limit the Patriot Act. The vote is expected to be very
close. It is urgent that you contact your congress member. Because we
don’t know precisely when the measure will be brought up on the floor,
it is also critical to reach your representative as early in the week as
possible.”

For maximum effectiveness, Finan recommends that those in favor of the
amendment contact their representative’s Washington office and tell
“whoever answers the phone” that they support the Sanders-Otter-Conyers
amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations Bill.
Additionally, they should follow up by faxing a note containing the same
message on letterhead.

Contact information for House representatives can be found by using the
search aid on the House Web site, http://www.house.gov. Or, contact
ABFFE at (212) 587-4025 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (EDT).

“Section 215 has created a dangerous chilling effect on First Amendment
rights by giving the FBI the power to secretly search the bookstore and
library records of anyone it believes may have information relevant to a
foreign intelligence investigation,” Finan explained. “In March, Sanders
introduced the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157) to restore the
protections for customer privacy eliminated by the Patriot Act. The bill
has gained wide support and is co-sponsored by 129 House members..
However, the House leadership is refusing to hold a hearing on H.R.
1157. The Sanders-Otter-Conyers amendment will give supporters of the
bill an opportunity to achieve its purpose through the appropriations
process.”