Tri-Partisan Congressional Coalition Forms Patriot Act Caucus

Those who believe conservatives and progressives can't agree on anything should take note of the continuing battle to amend the USA Patriot Act. Over the past two-plus years, politicians of all political persuasions have joined forces in an effort to amend provisions that threaten civil liberties and the right to privacy.

Most recently, on Thursday, April 29, a coalition of conservative and progressive members of Congress held a news conference to announce the formation of the Patriot Act Reform Caucus. Press conference participants Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Ron Paul (R-TX), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), and Butch Otter (R-ID) called for initiatives that protect the safety and security of the U.S., while ensuring that the laws passed to fight the war on terrorism do not violate civil liberties or diminish our system of checks and balances.

"This caucus shows that opposition to the Patriot Act comes from progressives and conservatives alike. Terrorism is a serious threat and ...the U.S. government should do all it can to protect our citizens from another terrorist attack," Sanders said in a statement. "However, we do not have to sacrifice our basic civil liberties to do that. We can protect the American people while at the same time upholding the Constitution and Bill of Rights."

The Patriot Act Reform Caucus will work with outside groups to educate Congress on the need for Patriot Act reforms and develop legislative proposals to ensure that constitutional freedoms and protections are maintained in any Patriot Act reauthorization. With several sections of the Patriot Act scheduled to sunset at the end of 2005, Congress is reexamining the law to determine the necessity of its provisions. Chaired by Sanders, Flake, Paul, and Nadler, the Caucus will look to play an important role in ensuring that American's civil liberties are protected.

"Supporters of the Patriot Act argue that its provisions have not been abused since its passage in 2001," said Paul. "In essence, Justice Department officials are saying: Trust us -- we're the government, and we say the Patriot Act does not threaten civil liberties. But this argument misses the point. Government assurances simply are not good enough in a free society. The overwhelming burden always must be placed on government to justify any new encroachment on our liberty. Now that the emotions of 9/11 have cooled, the American people are less willing to blindly accept terrorism as an excuse for expanding federal surveillance powers."

The Patriot Act Reform Caucus has broad support from groups all across the U.S., representing a wide political spectrum. The caucus is supported by the Liberty Coalition (a group of over 20 organizations whose members include the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, and Gun Owners of America); The Campaign for Reader Privacy (which includes ABA, the American Library Association, PEN American Center, and the Association of American Publishers); the Center for Democracy and Technology; Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances; and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

During the past two years, conservatives and progressives have joined together in an effort to amend Section 215 of the Patriot Act, among other provisions. Republicans and Democrats alike are listed as cosponsors on bills in the House and Senate to amend Section 215 and other provisions of the Patriot Act; during recent Congressional hearings, members of both parties have questioned the broad authority that Section 215 gives authorities; and the ACLU has joined forces with several conservative organizations in a group called "Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances (PRCB)."