SAFE Act hearing--Need Immediate Action for protection from book searches

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Just received this from the Authors Guild:

SAFE Act Hearing Begins at 10 A.M. Eastern Time (Tomorrow)

If you are concerned about the USA Patriot Act's provisions that allow FBI agents to conduct searches of bookstore and library records with the approval of federal judges in secret proceedings, please call your senator as soon as possible.

Details on the SAFE Act to reform the USA Patriot Act and phone numbers of Senate Judiciary members follow, in an alert written by the Campaign for Reader Privacy, which we've edited for relevance to our members.

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ALERT BY THE CAMPAIGN FOR READER PRIVACY

In a surprise move, this Wednesday Sept. 22nd at 10am EST, the US Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on the SAFE Act (S-1709), authored by Senators Larry Craig of Idaho and Richard Durbin of Illinois.

The SAFE Act both increases the effectiveness of antiterrorism efforts and protects the civil liberties of law-abiding U.S. citizens and residents. It is a bi-partisan bill supported by Republicans and Democrats.

Among other things, the SAFE Act restores the protections for the privacy of bookstore and library records that were eliminated by Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.

After 18 months, efforts to fix some of the problems with the USA Patriot Act are finally paying off. This hearing is IMPORTANT. If your Senator is a member of the Judiciary Committee, it is time to make a phone call!

One phone call WILL make a difference.

The SAFE Act is supported by virtually the entire US book industry (publishers, distributors and booksellers as represented by companies large and small plus the American Booksellers Association, etc.), plus the American Library Association, the writer's group PEN, over 350 cities and counties as well as four states, and over 170,000 people who have signed our petition (see www.readerprivacy.com).

Senators should be guided by the recommendations of the 9/11 commission: "The burden of proof for retaining a particular governmental power should be on the executive, to explain (a) that the power actually materially enhances security, and (b) that there is adequate supervision of the executive's use of the powers to ensure protection of civil liberties."

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The following Senators are on the Judiciary Committee.

We suggest the following:

Call the number below, ask for the staffer listed. Identify yourself by name. If you are in business, PLEASE say so by company name and field.

Say something like this:

I am calling to offer my support to the SAFE Act, S-1709, which has a hearing before the Judiciary Committee this week. The SAFE Act protects our civil liberties AND increases the effectiveness of antiterrorism efforts. The safety of our liberties is as important as the safety of our nation - BOTH matter to me."

AND REMEMBER, if the Senator is a supporter of the SAFE Act, the most important thing to say is "Thank you".

ALABAMA
Sen. Jeff Sessions
(ask for Prim Formby at [phone])

ARIZONA
Sen. Jon Kyl
(ask for Elizabeth Maier [phone])

CALIFORNIA
Dianne Feinstein
(ask for David Hantman [phone])

DELAWARE
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
(ask for Neil MacBride [phone])

GEORGIA
Saxby Chambliss
(ask for John Gillies [phone])

IDAHO
Larry Craig
(ask for Pam Thier [phone])
SENATOR LARRY CRAIG OF IDAHO IS THE AUTHOR OF THE SAFE ACT AND SHOULD RECEIVE OUR WARMEST THANKS.

ILLINOIS
Richard J. Durbin
(ask for Joe Zogby [phone])
SENATOR RICHARD DURBIN OF ILLINOIS IS A CO-AUTHOR OF THE SAFE ACT AND SHOULD RECEIVE OUR WARMEST THANKS.

IOWA
Charles E. Grassley
(ask for Chad Groover [phone])

MASSACHUSETTS
Edward M. Kennedy
(ask for Tony Marks [phone])
SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY OF MASSACHUSETTS IS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE SAFE ACT AND SHOULD RECEIVE OUR WARMEST THANKS.

NEW YORK
Charles E. Schumer
(ask for Judiciary Committee staff [phone])

NORTH CAROLINA
John Edwards
(ask for Stephanie Jones [phone])

OHIO
Mike DeWine
(ask for Patrick Tunno [phone])

PENNSYLVANIA
Arlen Specter
(ask for MaryBeth LaVerghetta [phone])

SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER OF PENNSYLVANIA IS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE SAFE ACT AND SHOULD RECEIVE OUR WARMEST THANKS.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Lindsey Graham
(ask for James Galyean [phone])

TEXAS
John Cornyn
(ask for Meredith Mino [phone])

UTAH
Orrin G. Hatch
(ask for CAT [phone])
CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

VERMONT
Patrick J. Leahy
(ask for Julie Katzman [phone])
RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

WISCONSIN
Russell D. Feingold
(ask for Bob Schiff [phone])
SENATOR RUSSELL FEINGOLD OF WISCONSIN IS A CO-AUTHOR OF THE SAFE ACT AND SHOULD RECEIVE OUR WARMEST THANKS.

WISCONSIN
Herbert Kohl
(ask for Jennifer Green [phone])

And please, tell your friends about our on-line petition at:

petition

We are delivering the petitions to Congress next week, September 29th! Make sure you stand up to be counted, because YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT NEEDS YOU!

Thank you!

The Staff of the Campaign for Reader Privacy

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1. Kicking for attention

This needs action TODAY for those interested in protection from having your book purchases and library habits examined in secret.

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2. Help keep this kicked today

This is an important issue of privacy and freedom.

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3. kick