House passes “Freedom to Read” Amendment

In a vote that sends a clear message to the Bush Administration that Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act needs to be amended to protect Americans’ right to privacy, the House yesterday passed Rep. Bernie Sanders’s (I-VT) Freedom to Read Amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State (CJS) Appropriations Bill by a vote of 238-187. The Sanders amendment cuts Justice Department funds for bookstore and library searches under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. On Tuesday, the Bush Administration had warned that it would veto the House Appropriations Bill if it included any amendments that would weaken the PATRIOT Act, as reported by the Washington Post.

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