Co-sponsors for Freedom to Read Protection Act Now 129

The Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157) continues to garner support within the House. All told, the bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), now has 129 co-sponsors.

Sanders introduced H.R. 1157 in March to limit the broad power given the FBI under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Under the proposed legislation, the government would have to seek an order through regular court channels, giving a bookseller or librarian the opportunity to object on First Amendment grounds. In addition, the government would have to show "probable cause," and booksellers and librarians would be free to report the receipt of subpoenas for customer records.

Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, noted that the number of co-sponsors for Sanders' bill is an indication of rapidly growing support in the House and the Senate for amending the USA Patriot Act. At present, three bills that amend to varying degrees Section 215 of the Patriot Act are being considered in the Senate.

Furthermore, on July 21, Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter's (R-ID) amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary Appropriations Bill of 2004 to withhold funding for "sneak and peek" searches of private property under Section 213 of the Patriot Act passed by an overwhelming margin. It was voted into the appropriations bill by a count of 309 -118 in favor. The amendment to Section 213 was co-sponsored by Representatives Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) and Ron Paul (R-TX) and would be the first limitation on the USA Patriot Act since it was passed in the wake of 9/11. The Senate must agree to the amendment.

"Five months ago, when we were starting this process, we thought it would be an uphill battle [to amend the USA Patriot Act]," said Finan. He noted that, while there have been challenges "we have made tremendous strides in five months time. Though there are 129 co-sponsors to Sanders bill, the House vote on the sneak and peek" shows there is a lot of hidden support for cutting back the powers of the Patriot Act.

To see a full list of the bill's sponsors and co-sponsors and their contact information, go to http://news.bookweb.org/read/1257.