RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF H.R.1157 THE "FREEDOM TO READ PROTECTION ACT OF 2003" AND THE SUNSET PROVISION IN H.R. 3162
USA PATRIOT ACT
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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, immediately following the 9-11 terrorist attack Congress acted to implement the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Adequate Tools," generally referred to as the USA Patriot Act with overwhelming support by the Congress including members of the San Mateo County delegation voted for the measure;

WHEREAS, the USA Patriot Act, H.R. 3162, a 342-page law that makes sweeping changes to more than 15 different statutes including the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) was enacted in just 45-days after the tragic events of September 11 and the complex provisions were enacted without interagency review and suspending the normal thorough public hearing process;

WHEREAS, The "Patriot Act"expands federal powers to search and conduct surveillance. Ostensibly, the measure was enacted to enhance domestic security against terrorism. The Patriot Act expands surveillance procedures, monitoring of international money exchanges, removes obstacles to investigating terrorism, provides for increased information sharing capabilities among law enforcement and created a counter terrorism fund;

WHEREAS, the USA Patriot Act increases the authority of the Attorney General to detain and deport non-citizens with little or no judicial review; and the Attorney General and Secretary of State are also given the authority to designate domestic groups as terrorist organizations and deport any non-citizen who belongs to them. Increases the penalties of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act; and defines computer crimes as "cyber-terrorist" terrorist attack and offense and increases surveillance capabilities and expands the federal government's powers to eavesdrop and have access to financial and computer records as "tools to track terrorists;"

The measure expands the federal government's power to eavesdrop and have access to financial and computer records as "tools to track terrorists."

WHEREAS, several of the surveillance provisions of USAPA expire on December 31, 2005.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors support the enactment of H.R.1157, "Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003," to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to exempt bookstores and libraries from the Patriot Act and requires the Attorney General to regularly provide information to the appropriate congressional oversight committee on the numbers of letter of request for information that have been made; and support the 2005 sunset date contained in H.R. 3162.