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ALA Urges Vote Against Patriot Act Conference Report

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From American Library Association Washington Office Newsline: “The House is scheduled to vote on the PATRIOT Act conference report as early as Thursday, November 17. The revised bill does not contain important civil liberties safeguards sought by ALA and other advocates…The revised bill sunsets at seven years (The Senate bill sunset was 4 years and the House bill sunset was 10 years) — A four year sunset will make it possible to correct an abuse of Section 215 at an earlier date.”
From EFF, draft of the final conference report follows (in three parts, all PDF):

  • Part One, pages 1-97
  • Part Two, pages 98-153
  • Part Three, pages 154-220

  • Patriot Act Becomes An Anti-Civil Liberties Christmas Tree, by Congressman John Conyers
  • “The revised bill requires that the FBI need only assert facts “relevant” to a general terrorist investigation to get an order from a secret FISA court for records. This is a lower and less protective standard than the Senate version of the bill that required the FBI to demonstrate a connection between the records sought and a terrorist organization or a suspected terrorist.”
  • “The revised bill does not provide a meaningful ability to challenge an NSL or order of the FISA court.”

    • Related news:

  • LA Times article (reg req’d), by Richard B. Schmitt, on the tentative deal reached by conferees.
  • AP, via San Francisco Chronicle, Tentative Deal on Patriot Act, Sources Say

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