12/15/2005 - UPDATED ACTION ALERT ON REAUTHORIZATION OF THE PATRIOT ACT

From: Elizabeth Milner, LWVPA President, lwvpa@epix.net and Susan Fields, Civil Liberties Specialist, sudofields@aol.com

ACTION ALERT: LWVUS has updated its Action Alert Opposition to Reauthorization of the Patriot Act! Urgent action is still needed to oppose the conference report on H.R. 3199, the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act! The key vote on the reauthorization bill reported by the House and Senate conference committee is expected in the Senate soon. We must stop the reauthorization in the Senate! The bill provides for more government secrecy in the name of homeland security and anti-terrorism without the checks and balances needed to protect civil liberties. Medical, banking or library records of Americans can still be obtained by law enforcement without necessary safeguards. Take action now to oppose the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act!

This bill makes most provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act permanent and then extends three of the most controversial provisions. It does not sufficiently protect civil liberties. It fails to restore checks and balances that were taken away by the USA PATRIOT Act.

Tell your Senators to vote for civil liberties and to vote NO on this expansion of the PATRIOT Act!

ACTION NEEDED

1. Contact your U.S. Senators NOW, by phone and by email. Urge them to
guard our civil liberties by rejecting the conference report on H.R. 3199,
the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. Tell them that the bill goes
too far, expanding the reach of law enforcement at the expense of basic
civil liberties. Phone calls can be made through the Capitol Hill
switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121.

Click here to enter your zip code and hit go http://takeaction.lwv.org/lwv/issues/alert/?alertid=8256371 to send an instant message to your Senators now!

2. Alert other concerned citizens­your grassroots network, your friends
and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their Senators today!

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