Maine Groups Urge Congress to Reform, Not Expand, USA PATRIOT Act
Coalition Advocates Greater Respect For Constitutional Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
PORTLAND – In light of impending action in the U.S. Congress, Maine groups have joined together to advocate reform of the USA PATRIOT Act. Some provisions of the law are due to expire this year, but some in government would like to make the entire act permanent. Indeed, some have even proposed expanding the law to allow for greater access to people’s homes and personal records.
Both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees are expected to consider bills to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act this week.
“Our leaders in Washington should act to protect freedom, not to further erode it,” said Shenna Bellows, Executive Director of the MCLU. “Instead of simply making the expiring Patriot Act provisions permanent, Congress ought to have a real discussion about the need to keep America both safe and free.”
The effort to reform the USA Patriot Act has united advocates from across the political spectrum. Groups that traditionally have little in common have come together over the right to privacy, personal freedom, and individual dignity.
“On this issue, conservatives and liberals agree—the USA PATRIOT Act must be reformed to bring it in line with the U.S. Constitution,” said Jeff Weinstein, President of the Maine Gun Owner’s Association.
One controversial provision of the act, Section 215, allows the FBI to seize a vast array of sensitive personal information and belongings – including medical, library and business records – using secret intelligence tools that do not require evidence of individual criminal activity.
“Section 215, as currently written, is a threat to people’s freedom to read and to keep personal information private,” said Pamela Turner, President of the Maine Library Association. “We hope that Sen. Snowe, Sen. Collins, Rep. Allen, and Rep. Michaud will heed the resolutions adopted by the people of Maine and will lead the fight for civil liberties protection in the Senate and the House.”
The
coalition advocating reform of the USA PATRIOT Act includes the following groups:
Maine Civil Liberties Union, Maine Gun Owner’s Association, Maine Library
Association, Amnesty International of Maine, Peace Action Maine, Maine chapter
of the National Lawyer’s Guild, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maine
chapter of the League of Women Voters, Maine Coalition for Peace and Justice,
Bangor Bill of Rights Defense Committee, and Portland Branch of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
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Contact: Shenna Bellows, MCLU, (207) 774-5444, sbellows@mclu.org