ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 15, Number 16
February 15, 2006

In This Issue: URGENT PATRIOT Act Alert

As we write, the Senate is debating a "compromise" PATRIOT Act 
reauthorization bill, in preparation for votes to come very soon. 
Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is planning a filibuster, but the 
four Republicans and several Democrats who stood with him last 
December have indicated that they will support the "compromise." 
In his floor speech, Senator Feingold once again mentioned the 
more than 400 community resolutions against the PATRIOT Act and 
said that he hopes to read some of them aloud to his colleagues. 
Here is his prepared floor statement as just delivered: 
http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/06/02/2006215.html
The Senate debate is being broadcast on C-SPAN 2, available online 
at http://c-span.org/watch/cspan2_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2.
This is our last chance to call our Senators. Please phone their 
offices as soon as you can today. (Sorry, there is not enough time 
for emails!)
The Schedule. We assume a cloture vote will take place today. 60 
or more votes in favor of cloture will allow a vote on the 
reauthorization bill. If the cloture vote succeeds, a vote on the 
PATRIOT Act reauthorization bill will take place either this 
evening or early tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 16).
What to do. Call both your Senators via the Capitol switchboard, 
202-224-3121 (24 hours), or look up their numbers at 
www.senate.gov.
Ask them to:
Oppose cloture on the PATRIOT Act reauthorization bill. 
Vote against the reauthorization bill.
Suggested talking points:
The "improvements" to the PATRIOT Act conference report do not 
adequately protect library patron privacy. 
Under section 215 orders and National Security letters, there is 
still no required connection between records sought and a 
suspected terrorist or spy. That means the private records of 
innocent Americans will still not be protected from fishing 
expeditions. 
The right to challenge gag orders, which now has a one-year wait, 
is also illusory.
Find more information here: www.ala.org/espy.

DON'T DELAY! Call your senators now, and urge your friends and 
contacts to join you. Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

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