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Press release from TRAC, December 6, 2005: “The federal government is unlawfully withholding information it normally provides the public about some 900,000 of its civilian employees, including those working for such agencies as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a …
Today the Washington Post launched a news website, The U.S. Congress Voters Database, that allows users to browse data from the 102nd Congress (1991) to the 109th Congress (present). A search engine and other features will be forthcoming. “This site offers an RSS feed for every current member of Congress, so you can get notified …
AP: GOP Wants to Create Secretive Gov’t Agency S. 1873 – A bill to prepare and strengthen the biodefenses of the United States against deliberate, accidental, and natural outbreaks of illness, and for other purposes. [Specific language as follows: “Information that relates to the activities, working groups, and advisory boards of the BARDA shall not …
The Personal Data Privacy And Security Act of 2005 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and moves forward to Senate hearings. Reported in Senate, S. 1789
Press release: “Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today sued Sony BMG Music Entertainment as the first state in the nation to bring legal action against SONY for illegal ‘spyware.’ The suit is also the first filed under the state’s spyware law of 2005. It alleges the company surreptitiously installed the spyware on millions of compact …
S. 1418: Wired for Health Care Quality Act, A bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide inter operable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States. Passed Senate by voice vote, November 18, 2005. Related documents: S. 1355 Senate Report 109-111 EPIC …
Yesterday: Patriot Act Reauthorization Encounters Strong Opposition; today news on a deadlock which will delay a vote until December. Preventing passage of any meaningful reforms to this legislation may indeed prove to be a bigger obstacle than anticipated. The work of organizations including the American Library Association, EFF, EPIC, CDT and the ACLU is in …
Rep. John P. Murtha’s statement of November 17, 2005: War in Iraq “The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for …
Sharing navigation and design similarities with the Library of Congress site as well as the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration site, today’s launch of the upgraded THOMAS Congressional information site offers citizens, educators and researchers additional browse and search features (including the ability to Search Multiple Congresses, from the 101 to the 109; links …
From American Library Association Washington Office Newsline: “The House is scheduled to vote on the PATRIOT Act conference report as early as Thursday, November 17. The revised bill does not contain important civil liberties safeguards sought by ALA and other advocates…The revised bill sunsets at seven years (The Senate bill sunset was 4 years and …
From the American Bar Association President, this November 9, 2005 letter (3 pages, PDF) requests that conferees seeking to reach agreement on the House (H.R. 3199) and Senate versions (S. 1389) accept language reforming sections 206, 213 and 215. These sections address limitations to the use of wiretaps, search warrants for homes and businesses, and …
Rep. Conyer’s Patriot Act Action Center includes links to Patriot Act resources from government and advocacy sources, a chronology of Congressional action on the legislation (which links to a series of beSpacific postings), recent news articles, and “What the Blogs are Saying.”
