ALA welcomes USA PATRIOT Act extension, thanks Congress for bipartisan effort to continue debate over civil liberties issues

Contact: Bernadette Murphy


Washington Communications Director


(202) 628-8410


bmurphy@alawash.org

For Immediate Release:


December 22, 2005

ALA welcomes USA PATRIOT Act extension, thanks Congress for bipartisan effort to continue debate over civil liberties issues

The following is a statement from ALA President Michael Gorman:

(WASHINGTON, DC) On behalf of our 65,000 members, the American Library Association applauds the Senate’s decision to extend the USA PATRIOT Act for six months, thus assuring an opportunity for lawmakers to debate the reauthorization legislation thoroughly and thoughtfully. The temporary extension of the PATRIOT Act will allow the Congress to ensure meaningful oversight of controversial provisions of the Act.

A bipartisan majority in the Senate guaranteed a continuation of debate last night, reflecting the American public’s ever-increasing concern about the PATRIOT Act’s overreaching provisions. Recent media reports of the government’s vastly increased use of National Security Letters (NSLs)—secret administrative subpoenas—as well as recent reports of the White House’s use of secret wiretaps on American citizens have reinforced the American public’s desire to enhance oversight of these programs.

We extend our sincere thanks to Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Feingold (D-WI), who led the fight against the fatally flawed conference report. We also extend our thanks to Senators John Sununu (R-NH) and Larry Craig (R-ID) who encouraged 52 Senators to join together to call for the additional time necessary for a thorough, bipartisan debate. The Patriot Act extension effort has been led by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Harry Reid (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Ken Salazar (D-CO). For a full list of Senators who signed the letter in support of an extension, visit:
www.ala.org/washoff/alawon.