American Civil Liberties Union

Federally-Funded Private and Religious School Vouchers

03/30/2011

On Wednesday, March 30, the House passed, by a vote of 225-195, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act "SOAR" (H.R. 471). This legislation, which was sponsored by Speaker of the House Boehner (R-OH), would reauthorize and expand federal funding for private and religious school vouchers in the District of Columbia. The ACLU opposed the so-called "SOAR" Act because the federal government should not send taxpayer dollars to fund, directly or indirectly, the religious education of children. Additionally, federal funds should not be used to subsidize private and religious schools that do not have to comply with many federal, state and local civil rights laws.

Oppose

Passed

Amendment to Limit Suspicionless Patriot Act Searches

02/18/2011

On Friday, February 18, 2011, the House defeated, by a vote of 196-231, an amendment offered by Representatives Conyers (D-MI), Paul (R-TX), Nadler (D-NY) and Jones (R-NC) to the House Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2011 (H.R. 1). The amendment would protect library and bookstore records from suspicionless government searches under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Under Section 215, the government is authorized to obtain "any tangible thing" relevant to a terrorism investigation including library or bookstore records even if there is no reason to believe that the person whose records are sought has any connection to terrorism. The amendment would have required the government to use traditional tools such as a grand jury subpoena or a warrant to obtain this sensitive, personal information. The ACLU supported the Conyers-Paul-Nadler-Jones Amendment because it would have partially restored First and Fourth Amendment rights which were eroded by Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

Support

Failed

Amendment to Defund Planned Parenthood

02/18/2011

On Friday, February 18, 2011, the House passed, by a vote of 240-185-1, an amendment offered by Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) to the House Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2011 (H.R. 1). The Pence Amendment would eliminate all federal funding to Planned Parenthood because the organization uses its own money to provide women with abortion care. The ACLU opposed the Pence Amendment because it would undermine women's access to basic health care services, would disproportionately impact low-income women, and raised serious constitutional concerns because it penalized an organization for using its own (non-federal) funds to provide abortions.

Oppose

Agreed To

Patriot Act Extension - House Vote #2

02/14/2011

On February 14, 2011, the House, by a vote of 275-144, passed a 10-month extension of three troublesome Patriot Act provisions (H.R. 514). The ACLU opposed the extension because all three expiring provisions give the government sweeping authority to spy on individuals inside the United States and, in some cases, without any suspicion of wrongdoing. Additionally, the legislation would reauthorize and extend these provisions without including common sense amendments to protect Americans' privacy rights.

Oppose

Passed

Patriot Act Extension - House Vote #1

02/08/2011

On February 8, 2011, the House failed to reach the necessary two-thirds majority required to pass a 10-month extension of three troublesome Patriot Act provisions (H.R. 514). The two-thirds majority was required because the legislation was given expedited consideration under the House suspension calendar. The vote was 277-148. The ACLU opposed the extension because all three expiring provisions give the government sweeping authority to spy on individuals inside the United States and, in some cases, without any suspicion of wrongdoing. Additionally, the legislation would reauthorize and extend these provisions without including common sense amendments to protect Americans' privacy rights.

Oppose

Failed