CRP Sponsors Vow to Continue Battle to Amend Section 215

This week, the sponsors of the Campaign for Reader Privacy (CRP), www.readerprivacy.org, vowed to continue their efforts to amend Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Last week's re-election of President George W. Bush almost ensures there will be a major battle next year over the reauthorization of Section 215, as well as other controversial sections of the act that are set to expire on December 31. In his bid for re-election, the President made clear his support for the Patriot Act, and he has already said he believes it is essential to make these sections permanent.

In September, CRP's sponsors -- ABA, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers, and PEN American Center -- presented members of Congress with petitions bearing over 185,000 signatures calling for Congress to restore readers' privacy rights. The groups are planning a strategy meeting in Washington, D.C., on December 1.

In other news, as a result of last Tuesday's elections, two leaders in the fight to amend Section 215 are returning to Congress next year: Representative Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the sponsor of the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157), and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), the only member of the Senate to vote against the Patriot Act.

CRP continues to collect signatures through its online petition, and booksellers who are still holding signed petitions are asked to mail them to Oren Teicher, ABA, 828 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591.

To read more about CRP and other First Amendment issues, click here.