Keeping America safe and free requires an overhaul of this deeply flawed law. The "library provision" - which also affects many other kinds of personal records - and similar dragnet search and seizure provisions must be narrowed to ensure they apply only to those suspected of terrorism and terrorist affiliation. The courts must regain the right to independent, meaningful review of these operations to check abuses. Congress should get regular reports and must review the security efforts' effectiveness. And the courts must enforce First Amendment oversight of gag orders, so that the FBI does not unilaterally silence Americans.
Key portions of the Patriot Act are set to expire. A group of U.S. senators has introduced the Justice Act (S. 1686) to end unnecessary civil liberties abuses under the Patriot Act and to restore constitutional safeguards to U.S. national security efforts. This time around, Maryland's congressional leaders have important roles to play on the Patriot Act, as they now occupy key positions in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in the majority party. Marylanders who believe security and liberty are not opposing goals should urge our leaders to shepherd through reforms included in the Justice Act.
