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Congressional
Leaders Ask President Bush: How Will You Protect Passenger Privacy?
February
11, 2004
Washington,
D.C. -- In a letter sent today, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi,
Representatives John Tierney (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and
23 other Democratic Members of Congress voiced their concern to
President Bush about how his Administration plans to protect passenger
privacy during implementation of the Computer-Assisted Passenger
Screening Program (CAPPS II).
“We look
forward to working with the Bush Administration is striking the
appropriate balance that ensures the protection of our national
security and the protection of our civil liberties,” the Members
of Congress wrote.
The following
is the full text of the letter:
February 10,
2004
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
Many of our constituents have contacted our Congressional offices
concerned that their privacy rights have been violated by airlines
turning over personal consumer information to the federal government
without their knowledge or consent.
We certainly
understand, that after the horrible attacks of September 11, 2001,
heightened security is necessary to ensure safe air travel. However,
even with the necessary exchange of liberty for security, consumers
have the right to know how their private, personal information will
be used.
Before the Computer-Assisted Passenger Pre-Screening Program (CAPPS
II) is implemented, we urge the adoption of a specific policy that
makes clear the role of airlines in sharing consumer information
with the federal government. Such a policy should articulate what
information can be shared by airlines and how such information is
to be shared. First, we would anticipate a clear explanation as
to the boundaries of any information-sharing between airlines and
the federal government. Second, consumers must be clearly informed
at the time they purchase their airline tickets as to how their
personal information will be used.
We look forward to working with you in striking the appropriate
balance that ensures the protection of our national security and
the protection of our civil liberties, and thank you in advance
for your prompt attention to this matter.
Respectfully,
John F. Tierney
Member of Congress
Janice D. Schakowsky
Member of Congress
Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Leader
Sherrod Brown
Member of Congress
William D.
Delahunt
Member of Congress
Jay Inslee
Member of Congress
Tammy Baldwin
Member of Congress
Carolyn B.
Maloney
Member of Congress
Karen McCarthy
Member of Congress
Edward J. Markey
Member of Congress
Michael M.
Honda
Member of Congress
Jim McDermott
Member of Congress
Jose E. Serrano
Member of Congress
Michael E. Capuano
Member of Congress
Sam Farr
Member of Congress
Sheila Jackson
Lee
Member of Congress
John Conyers
Jr.
Member of Congress
Jerrold Nadler
Member of Congress
Betty McCollum
Member of Congress
Stephanie Tubbs
Jones
Member of Congress
Jim Turner
Member of Congress
James P. Moran
Member of Congress
Melvin L. Watt
Member of Congress
Gene Green
Member of Congress
Pete Stark
Member of Congress
Martin T. Meehan
Member of Congress
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