Kucinich Introduces Legislation to Repeal Sections of the USA PATRIOT Act
The following is a press release from September 24, 2003, by the Kucinich campaign
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Kucinich Introduces Legislation to Repeal Sections of the USA PATRIOT Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 24, 2003
Today, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, introduced legislation into the US House of Representatives to repeal more than ten sections of the USA PATRIOT Act.
Rep. Kucinich is the only presidential candidate who voted against the PATRIOT Act, and this is the first comprehensive legislation that would repeal sections of it.
"Twenty-four months after the September 11th attacks, this nation has undergone a dramatic political change, leading to an unprecedented assault on the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights," said Kucinich.
The bill, titled the "Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act", would repeal sections of the USA PATRIOT Act that authorize sneak and peak searches, warrentless library, medical, and financial record searches, and the detention and deportation of non-citizens without meaningful judicial review. Beyond the PATRIOT Act, the bill also cements the fundamental right of attorney-client privilege and restores transparency in the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security by revoking FOIA secrecy orders.
"After September 11th, Americans did not authorize the deterioration of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments," continued Kucinich. "At a time when over 200 years of Americans' faith in civil liberties is endangered by two years of fear, I believe that with the 'True Patriot Act', this Congress can achieve both liberty and safety for all Americans."
The bill is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Religious Action Center of Reformed Judaism. In addition the bill has 20 Congressional co-sponsors.
The full bill, a summary of the bill, and the text of Rep. Kucinich's remarks are available on request.
For more information: http://kucinich.us/issues/issue_civilliberties.htm
For Rep. Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.
Contact: David Swanson 202-329-7847 swanson@kucinich.us.
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