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NATIONAL SECURITY LETTERS AND PATRIOT ACT REAUTHORIZATION

=20

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the USA PATRIOT Act greatly expanded=20

the Government's authority to use national security letters,=20

documents issued by FBI agents without judicial or grand jury=20

approval that allow the Government to obtain sensitive information=20

about innocent American citizens. The recipient of a national=20

security letter is subject to a permanent automatic gag order.

=20

The Justice Department claims that they are not interested in the=20

library records of innocent Americans. However, they acknowledge=20

that they do not know how often FBI agents have obtained library=20

records since enactment of the PATRIOT Act. And just 3 weeks ago,=20

the Justice Department again refused my request to make public the=20

number of national security letters that FBI agents have issued=20

since the PATRIOT Act became law. As a result, the American people=20

have no idea how often the FBI is using this controversial power=20

to obtain their sensitive personal records, including library=20

records.

=20

I commend our Nation's librarians for defending our Constitution=20

and leading the fight to reform the PATRIOT Act. Unfortunately in=20

the past this Justice Department has criticized librarians for=20

exercising their first amendment rights. Now they have gone even=20

further--preventing a librarian from speaking publicly about a=20

legal challenge to the national security letter power.

=20

In our democracy, the government is supposed to be open and=20

accountable to the people and the people have a right to keep=20

their personal lives private, This Justice Department seems to=20

want to reverse this order, keeping their activity secret and=20

prying into the private lives of innocent American citizens.

=20

The President has asked Congress to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act.=20

In order to have a fully informed public debate, the American=20

people should know how often the national security letter=20

authority has been used and they should be able to hear from=20

librarians and others who are concerned about this power.

=20

=20

******

ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the=20

American Library Association Washington Office. All materials=20

subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be=20

reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with=20

appropriate credits.

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To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo=20

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the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc at ala.org. ALAWON=20

archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon.=20

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ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403,=20

Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478=20

toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; Web site:=20

http://www.ala.org/washoff.  Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff.=20

Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Don=20

Essex, Joshua Farrelman, Erin Haggerty, Patrice McDermott and=20

Miriam Nisbet. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick=20

Weingarten, Director; Carrie Lowe, Kathy Mitchell, Carrie Russell.=20

ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.

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<BODY>
<DIV>Folks, =20
FYI. Not many Ohio officials on these lists. Kent</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
Kent Oliver, Executive =

Director Stark County=20
District Library 715=20
Market Ave., N., Canton, OH 44702 <FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2>W: 330 458 2710 FAX: 330 455 9596 =
 <SPAN=20
lang=3Den-us><A href=3D"mailto:KOliver at starklibrary.org"><SPAN=20
lang=3Den-us>KOliver at starklibrary.org</A>=20
 "With a =
library you=20
are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most=20
democratic of institutions because no one - but no one at all - can tell =
you=20
what to read and when and how."  <FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Doris Lessing, novelist
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft>-----Original Message----- From: owner-ala-wo at ala.org =

[mailto:owner-ala-wo at ala.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>ALAWASH =
E-MAIL<BR><B>Sent:</B>=20
Thursday, September 29, 2005 4:47 PM<BR><B>To:</B> ALA Washington Office =

Newsline Subject: [ALA-WO:178] [1] Last Chance for PATRIOT =
Action! [2]=20
Durbin Thanks Librarians </DIV>
<DIV>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">ALAWON: American Library Association Washington =
Office=20
Newsline<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Volume 14, Number =
98<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">September 29, =
2005<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">In This Issue: [1] Last Chance for PATRIOT Action! =
[2] Durbin=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Thanks =
Librarians<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">[1] Last Chance for PATRIOT Action!=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">The next few days present what is very likely your =
last=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">opportunity to have an impact on the final language =
of the=20
PATRIOT <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Act reauthorization. We understand that Republican =
staff may=20
have <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">started private meetings on the bill that will come =
out of=20
the <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">PATRIOT Act conference. The meetings among the =
Members may=20
not <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">happen until the 2nd week in October, but the deal =
could well=20
be <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">in place before then. We are writing to you one =
last time on=20
these <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">reauthorization bills to urge you to call your =
Members and=20
ask <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">them to sign the "Dear Conferee" letters being =
circulated in=20
the <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">House and in the Senate. Librarians' grassroots =
efforts have=20
made <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">an enormous difference during this process =96 =
thank you in=20
advance <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">for helping us during the final push.=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">BACKGROUND:<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">The House and Senate have each passed a PATRIOT=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Act reauthorization bill. ALA supports the Senate =
version of=20
the <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">bill (S.1389) =20
because it would eliminate the danger of fishing=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">expeditions in bookstores and library records by =
placing=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">safeguards on the search of the records of =
suspected=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">terrorists. Further, the Senate bill would require =
public=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">disclosure of the number of bookstore and library =
searches=20
made by <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">law enforcement officials under Section 215.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  For further=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">information on the provisions of direct concern to =
librarians=20
and <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">the reading public, go to=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier =
New">http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/civilliberties/privacy/pri<o=
:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">vacyrelated.htm =
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">ACTION:<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Senators Craig and Durbin and Representatives =
Sanders and=20
Otter <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">are circulating "Dear Conferee" letters in their =
respective=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">chambers. Both letters ask the conferees to support =
the=20
Senate <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">bill (S. 1389). =
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">If your Senators do NOT appear on the list of =
Senators who=20
have <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">signed the letter, please contact them to ask them =
to sign=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">the  =
"Dear=20
Conferee" letter circulated by Senators Craig and=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Durbin.  =
(To sign=20
on - or if they have questions - they can =
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">contact Brooke Roberts in Senator Craig's office =
at<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  202-224-1013=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">or Joseph Zogby in Senator Durbin's office at<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =20
202-224-2152.):<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Senators who have signed the Dear Conferee Letter =
(In=20
alphabetical <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">order)<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Sens. Baucus, Biden, Bingaman, Byrd, Cantwell, =
Clinton,=20
Corzine, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Craig, Dodd, Durbin, Feingold, Feinstein, Harkin, =
Kerry,=20
Kohl, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Lautenberg, Mikulski, Murkowski, Reid, Salazar, =
Schumer,=20
Sununu, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">and Wyden. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">If your Representatives do<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  NOT appear on the list=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">below,  =
please=20
contact them to urge them to sign the "Dear =
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Conferee" letter =20
circulated by Reps Sanders and Otter.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  (To sign=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">on - or if they have questions - they can contact =
Rebecca=20
Raiser <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">in Rep. Sanders' office at<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  202-=20
225-4115):<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Representatives who have signed the Dear Conferee =
letter (In=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">alphabetical order): =20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Abercrombie, Allen,=20
Andrews<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Baca, Baird, Baldwin, Bartlett, Becerra, =
Berkley,=20
Berman, Bishop, Blumenauer, Boucher, =
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Brown, =
Butterfield<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Capuano, Carnahan, Carson, Case, Christensen, =
Clay,=20
Cleaver, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Costello, Crowley,=20
Cummings<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Davis, DeFazio, DeGette, DeLauro, Dicks, =
Dingell,=20
Doggett<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Ehlers, Emanuel, Engel, Eshoo,=20
Evans<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Farr, Filner, =
Frank<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Gonzalez, Green, Greave,=20
Gutierrez<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Harman, Hastings, Herseth, Higgins, Hinchey, =
Holt,=20
Honda, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Hooley<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Inslee, =
Israel<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Jackson Jr.,=20
Johnson<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Kennedy, Kildee, Kilpatrick, Kind,=20
Kucinich<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Langevin, Lantos, Larsen, Larson, Lee, Levin, =
Lewis,=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Lofgren, Lois Capps,=20
Lowey<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Mack, Maloney, Manzullo, Markey, Matheson, =
Matsui,=20
McCarthy, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">McCollum, McDermott, McGovern, McNulty, Meehan, =
Menendez,=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Millender-McDonald, Miller, Moore (Gwen), Moore =
(Dennis),=20
Moran<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Nadler, =
Ney<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Oberstar, Olver, Otter,=20
Owens<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Pallone, Pastor, Paul, Payne, Peterson,=20
Price<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Reyes, Rothman,=20
Roybal-Allard<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Sabo, Salazar, Sanchez, Sanders, Schakowsky,=20
Schiff<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Schwartz, Scott, Serrano, Sherman, Slaughter, =
Smith, Solis,=20
Stark<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Tauscher, Thompson, Tierney,=20
Towns<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Udall, Tom, Udall,=20
Mark<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Van Hollen,=20
Vel=E1zquez<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Waters, Watson, Waxman, =
Weiner,=20
Wexler, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Woolsey, Wu<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Wynn<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">If your Members ARE on these lists, be sure to =
write to them=20
and <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">thank them. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Thank you again for your continued work on this =
important=20
issue. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">[2] Senator Durbin Thanks Librarians=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">From the Congressional Record: September 28, 2005=20
(Senate)<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Page =
S10582-S10583<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">     =20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">NATIONAL SECURITY LETTERS AND PATRIOT ACT=20
REAUTHORIZATION<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the USA PATRIOT Act =
greatly=20
expanded <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">the Government's authority to use national security =
letters,=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">documents issued by FBI agents without judicial or =
grand jury=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">approval that allow the Government to obtain =
sensitive=20
information <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">about innocent American citizens. The recipient of =
a national=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">security letter is subject to a permanent automatic =
gag=20
order.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">The Justice Department claims that they are not =
interested in=20
the <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">library records of innocent Americans. However, =
they=20
acknowledge <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">that they do not know how often FBI agents have =
obtained=20
library <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">records since enactment of the PATRIOT Act. And =
just 3 weeks=20
ago, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">the Justice Department again refused my request to =
make=20
public the <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">number of national security letters that FBI agents =
have=20
issued <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">since the PATRIOT Act became law. As a result, the =
American=20
people <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">have no idea how often the FBI is using this =
controversial=20
power <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">to obtain their sensitive personal records, =
including library=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">records.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">I commend our Nation's librarians for defending our =

Constitution <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">and leading the fight to reform the PATRIOT Act.=20
Unfortunately in <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">the past this Justice Department has criticized =
librarians=20
for <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">exercising their first amendment rights. Now they =
have gone=20
even <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">further--preventing a librarian from speaking =
publicly about=20
a <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">legal challenge to the national security letter=20
power.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">In our democracy, the government is supposed to be =
open and=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">accountable to the people and the people have a =
right to keep=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">their personal lives private, This Justice =
Department seems=20
to <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">want to reverse this order, keeping their activity =
secret and=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">prying into the private lives of innocent American=20
citizens.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">The President has asked Congress to reauthorize the =
PATRIOT=20
Act. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">In order to have a fully informed public debate, =
the American=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">people should know how often the national security =
letter=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">authority has been used and they should be able to =
hear from=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">librarians and others who are concerned about this=20
power.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">******<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular =
publication of=20
the <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">American Library Association Washington Office. All =
materials=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">subject to copyright by the American Library =
Association may=20
be <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial =
purposes with=20
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<SPAN=20
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credits.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
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<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
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<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
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listproc at ala.org or go to=20
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<SPAN=20
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<SPAN=20
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<SPAN=20
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style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
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<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
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N.W., Suite=20
403, <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
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800.941.8478 <o:p></o:p>
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style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
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<SPAN=20
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style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Executive Director: Emily =
Sheketoff.=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, =
Director; Don=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Essex, Joshua Farrelman, Erin Haggerty, Patrice =
McDermott and=20
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<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
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Policy: Rick=20
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<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">Weingarten, Director; Carrie Lowe, Kathy Mitchell, =
Carrie=20
Russell. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><FONT=20
face=3D"Courier New">ALAWON Editor: Bernadette=20
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