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| tatgirl |
Senator@Biden.Senate.gov
Please distribute this email. _It is his direct link.
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Please send this to as many lists, messageboards, contacts as possible! _The RAVE Act could become LAW as soon as
TODAY!
*****************
***EMERGENCY - JOE BIDEN TRYING TO SNEAK RAVE ACT INTO S151 Conference***
*** CALL YOUR SENATOR NOW ***
Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) is at this very moment attempting to sneak the RAVE
Act into conference committee on the National AMBER Alert Network Act of
2003 (S151). _S151 is a popular bill about child abduction and has nothing
to do with drug issues. _S151 has already been passed by the Senate and
House and is now in Conference. _In contrast, the RAVE Act has not passed
even one single committee this year. _It did pass a committee last year, but
was so controversial two Senators withdrew their sponsorship after the vote.
This means that if the RAVE Act passes the conference committee, it is
likely to become law without ever having a hearing, a debate or a vote.
Drug Policy Alliance has been told that Senator Biden has told other
conference committee members, incorrectly, that the ACLU is no longer in
opposition to the action. _He also has told conferees that nightclub owners
now support him (on the basis of one group that switched sides). _If the act
makes it into the conference language it is likely to become law. _It must
be stopped now.
PHONE YOUR SENATORS and Conference Committee Members (Background information
below). _DO IT NOW. _If you do not respond to this alert, the controversial
RAVE Act is likely to become law and it will be much harder to fix.
ACTIONS TO TAKE:
1. _The following Members of Congress are on the conference committee. _They
need to hear from you IF AND ONLY IF you live in their district. _Please be
polite. _Just tell them that you oppose the RAVE Act, that it is
controversial and it should not be included in the conference language of
S151. _Don't stay on the phone long. _Ask as many people as you can to call
them.
HOUSE:
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) - 202/225-5101
Howard Coble (R-NC) - 202/225-3065
Lamar Smith (R-TX) - 202/225-4236
Mark Green (R-WI)- 202/225-5665
Melissa Hart (R-PA)- 202/225-2565
John Conyers (D-MI) - 202/225-5126
Bobby Scott (D-VA) - - 202/225-8351
SENATE:
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) - 202/224-5251
Charles Grassley (R-IA) - 202/224-3744
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - 202/224-4124
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - 202/224-5972
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) - 202/224-4242
Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - 202/224-4543
Joseph Biden (D-DE) - 202/224-5042
2. _Everyone in the U.S. - You have two Senators who can weigh in on this
issue with the conferees. _A list of your Senators by state can be found at
http://www.senate.gov/general/conta...nators_cfm.cfm. _Please
call your Senators at the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 - please tell
them that the RAVE Act is very controversial. _Senator Biden is holding up
the AMBER Act by placing controversial bill in conference. _Urge them to
oppose the RAVE Act by contacting the Senate conferees and asking them to
leave it off the measure so that there will at least be a hearing on this
issue. _
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Congress is considering two pieces of legislation that could create
disincentives for club owners to have water, ambulances and paramedics
available at large dance events. _The bills might also threaten live music
and dancing. If enacted, either bill could prevent you from hearing your
favorite band or DJ live. Every musical style would be affected, including
rock and roll, Hip Hop, country, and electronic music. The proposed laws
could also shut down hemp festivals, circuit parties, and other events
government officials don't like. Both bills would allow overzealous
prosecutors to send innocent people to jail for the crimes of others.
The two bills are the RAVE Act (H.R. 718) and the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R. 834).
The RAVE Act was first introduced last year in the Senate by Senator Joe
Biden (D-DE). A House version was introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX).
Thanks to the support of thousands of voters like you, Drug Policy Alliance
and a coalition of friends and activists around the country was able to stop
both bills last year. Unfortunately, supporters of the RAVE Act are even
more determined to pass it this year. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) is sponsoring
a new RAVE Act in the House. Additionally, Senator Biden has introduced a
Senate version entitled the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act.
If enacted, the RAVE Act would make it easier for the federal government to
punish property owners for any drug offense that their customers commit -
even if they work hard to stop such offenses. If enacted, nightclub and
stadium owners would likely stop holding events - such as rock or Hip Hop
concerts - in which even one person might use drugs.
The CLEAN-UP Act was also first introduced last year, but it failed to make
it out of committee. This year's bill has over 60 co-sponsors and could
become law without your help. Sponsored by Rep. Doug Ose (R-CA), the Clean,
Learn, Educate, Abolish, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of
Methamphetamines Act is largely an innocuous bill that provides more money
and training for the clean up of illegal methamphetamine lab. Hidden within
the bill, however, is a draconian section that could make dancing and live
music federal crimes.
Section 305 of the CLEAN-UP Act stipulates that:
`Whoever, for a commercial purpose, knowingly promotes any rave, dance,
music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under circumstances
where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know that a controlled
substance will be used or distributed in violation of Federal law or the law
of the place where the event is held, shall be fined under title 18, United
States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 9 years, or both.'
This provision will allow any concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub
owner and arena or stadium owner to be fined and jailed, since a reasonable
person would know some people use drugs at musical events.
Under both the RAVE Act and the CLEAN-UP Act, it doesn't matter if the event
promoter and property owner try to prevent people from using drugs. Nor does
it matter if the vast majority of people attending the event are law-abiding
citizens that want to listen to music not do drugs. If enacted, either bill
could be used to shut down raves, circuit parties, marijuana rallies,
unpopular music concerts, and any other event federal officials don't like. |
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| rock_roll18 |
Senators dont have enough time / intelligence to make more crucial acts .... and they seem to be hell bent on destroying any possible chance the electronic music scene has of surviving.
How r the night clubs supporting him in any case?One group i.e
Thanks for letting us know :) |
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