Category «Legislation»

New Database Tracks Earmarks in FY 2007 House Appropriations

Press release: “Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today joined a coalition of groups and websites to launch an interactive online database of the more than the 1,800 earmarks in the House version of the fiscal 2007 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5647). The effort aims …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legislation

New Common Cause Report Examines Telecom Lobbying and Net Neutrality

“Back in March, Common Cause released its first “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing” report, detailing the activities of nine groups masquerading as think tanks and public interest organizations, but controlled by telephone and cable companies. Since then, we’ve gotten the dirt on five more.” Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, Part II: More Telecom Industry Front Groups and …

Subjects: Congress, Internet, Legislation

Small Business Information Security Act of 2006

Press release: “Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today introduced the “Small Business Information Security Act of 2006,” (S. 3786) legislation that will create the “Small Business Information Security Task Force” within the Small Business Administration to help small businesses both understand the information security challenges …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, ID Theft, Legislation

Opposition to Mandatory Government Warning Labels on Web Content

“CDT today urged lawmakers to reject legislation that would force Internet speakers to place government-sanctioned warning labels on a broad range of online content. “Mandatory labeling of legal online content under threat of criminal sanction is ineffective, unwise, and unconstitutional,” CDT wrote in a pair of letters sent to the leaders of the Senate Commerce …

Subjects: Blogs, Censorship, Congress, Free Speech, Government Documents, Internet, Legislation

Armed Services Commitee Hearing Concerning Legislation in Response to Hamdan

Prepared Statement of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales before the Senate Committee on Armed Services concerning Legislation in Response to Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, Washington, D.C., August 2, 2006. “We believe that Congress should enact a new Code of Military Commissions, modeled on the court-martial procedures of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or “UCMJ,” but …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legal Research, Legislation

Tax Haven Abuses Hearing and Report

U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing – Tax Haven Abuses: The Enablers, The Tools & Secrecy: “The Subcommittee’s…August 1st hearings will present case histories on the use of offshore trusts and corporations to circumvent U.S. tax, securities and anti-money laundering laws. Witnesses for the upcoming hearing will …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Coalition of Public and Consumer Groups Criticize Proposed Data Breach Legislation

EPIC: “A data breach notification bill [H.R. 3997] backed by the House Financial Services Committee drew criticisms from state law enforcement officials and a coalition of consumer groups, who said that existing state laws are more effective at protecting consumers. In a letter to House leadership signed by 48 state attorneys general, the National Association …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, ID Theft, Legislation, Privacy

House Passes Bill Requiring Mandatory Net Filtering By Libraries

H.R.5319 – To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require recipients of universal service support for schools and libraries to protect minors from commercial social networking websites and chat rooms. CDT: “The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would force schools and libraries to block chat and social networking sites as a …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Congress, E-Government, Legislation, Libraries, Privacy