Issues:
The issues ALA wanted to have addressed this year included support
for LSTA as the funding level of $250 million as indicated in
S.888, increase funding for “Literacy through School Libraries”
to $100 million, co-sponsor H.R.107 (Boucher-Doolittle bill)
which proposes changes to DMCA (provide for fair use), and co-sponsor
H.R. 1157 which would return to pre-Patriot Act standards for
FISA searches. There were several other smaller issues the delegates
could address if there was time. Additional information on the
issues can be found at the ALA
Washington Office Issues Page. During Monday’s briefing,
several delegates also raised the issue of what is happening
to the ERIC clearinghouses. The ALA representatives stated that
ACRL submitted a response to the proposal. However, the ALA
office representatives did not appear to be too interested in
the issue.
Meetings:
I had the opportunity to meet with the aides to Congressman
Philip Crane, Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senator Peter Fitzgerald.
I also had the opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Judy Biggert
and Senator Richard Durbin. The meetings went well. The aides
for the Congressmen and Senator were very responsive to the
funding and fair use issues. Senator Durbin was also very supportive
to the point of making our cases for us. The Congresswoman had
a very busy schedule and was only able to give us a few minutes.
The most difficult issue to deal with was co-sponsoring H.R.
1157 which would return to higher legal standards to obtain
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court orders and
warrants to investigate library patrons and bookstore customers.
The responses were along party lines. There appeared to be bi-partisan
consent to keeping the sunset clauses in the Patriot Act that
would allow the Congress to reexamine parts of the law in 2005.
The issue of the ERIC clearinghouses was discussed with a couple
of congressional aides. They understood the problem as they
had used ERIC as undergraduate students. The consensus was that
this was an administrative issue (executive branch organizational
structure) as opposed to a legislative issue. However, they
were in discussions with the Department of Education and will
see what can be done.
Recommendation:
LIBRAS needs to take a more active role in legislative issues.
If our representatives and senators are made aware of our issues
throughout the year, then the National Legislative Day would
serve to reinforce what is being said. If we only meet them
one day each year, I do not think that the message will make
an impression. I think that the same can be said for Illinois
Legislative Day as well.
Submitted by
Luann DeGreve
LIBRAS Vice President/President-Elect May 21, 2003
