CONGRESS MUST PROTECT PERSONAL DATA FROM GOVERNMENT SPYING
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
I am deeply frustrated that the Senate failed to pass the Wyden-Daines amendment to protect Americans from warrantless spying on their internet search histories. [FOR WYDEN: Thank you for sponsoring this amendment.]
I hope the House passes the Lofgren-Davidson amendment to the Reauthorization of the USA Freedom Act. If so, I know you will work hard to pass the House version in the Senate.
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
I strongly support adding the Lofgren-Davidson amendment to the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act to protect individuals from warrantless spying on their internet search histories. Please vote yes on this amendment.
CALL SUZANNE BONAMICI (OR-01)
CALL GREG WALDEN (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL KURT SCHRADER (OR-05)
ACTION THREE: HELP REGISTER VOTERS FROM YOUR HOME
ORGANIZING FOR THE 2020 ELECTION HAS GONE VIRTUAL!
- IO IS HOSTING VIRTUAL LETTER WRITING EVENTS. SIGN UP AT HTTPS://SWINGLEFT.ORG/GROUP/INDIVISIBLE-OREGON
- WRITE LETTERS TO VOTERS FROM HOME, WHENEVER IT’S CONVENIENT FOR YOU. REGISTER WITH VOTE FORWARD TO GET STARTED AT VOTEFWD.ORG.
- HOST YOUR OWN VIRTUAL LETTER-WRITING PARTY! GET STARTED HERE: HTTP://SWINGLEFT.ORG/P/VIRTUAL-LETTER-WRITING-PARTY
STAY TUNED: MORE EVENTS ON THE WAY!
BACKGROUND:
After the Senate Democrats narrowly lost a vote to limit warrantless spying on Americans’ internet search histories, House leaders reversed course and are allowing the issue to be taken up on the House floor. House members will be voting on an amendment that mirrors the one defeated – by one vote – on the Senate floor a few days ago.
The House and Senate are wrestling with reauthorizing the USA Freedom Act, the updated version of the Patriot Act, which had to be modified after Edward Snowden revealed indiscriminate hovering of Americans’ phone records by the NSA.
Sen. Wyden, who along with Sen. Daines, introduced the failed amendment, has signed off the House version, the Lofgren-Davidson Amendment
“If you know that a person is visiting the website of a mental health professional, or a substance abuse support group, or a particular political organization, or a particular dating site, you know a tremendous amount of private … information…” said Sen. Wyden.
If it passes the House, the Senate will have to vote on the House version of the bill.
Our House members need to hear that we strongly support the Lofgren-Davidson amendment, and our Senators need our support to win this time.
SOURCES:
HOUSE VOTE ON USA FREEDOM ACT WILL INCLUDE LANGUAGE MIRRORING THE WYDEN-DAINES AMENDMENT: HTTPS://GIZMODO.COM/HOUSE-LEADERS-STRIKE-DEAL-TO-PROTECT-U-S-WEB-BROWSING-1843678595
SENATE USA FREEDOM ACT:
HTTPS://WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM/COMMENTISFREE/2020/MAY/16/US-SENATE-CONGRESS-PRIVACY-BILL-SEARCH-HISTORY
ACLU AND COALITION LETTER TO HOUSE LEADERS: HTTPS://WWW.ACLU.ORG/COALITION-LETTER-HOUSE-LEADERSHIP-CONCERNING-WYDEN-DAINES-AMENDMENT-USA-FREEDOM-REAUTHORIZATION-ACT
