Original Patriot Act Author Says Call-Data Collection Exceeds Congressional Intent San Francisco–(ENEWSPF)–September 5, 2013.  The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) yesterday filed a brief on behalf of Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the author of the original USA PATRIOT Act, in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–September 5, 2013.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) yesterday released a new directive regulating the use of solitary confinement in ICE detention that applies to all ICE detention facilities nationwide. The new policy substantially increases ICE’s monitoring of the use of solitary confinement and sets important limits on its[Read More…]

Signatories Call on Congress to Hold the DEA Accountable for Systematic, Illegal Practices NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–September 5, 2013.  More than 120 groups from across the political spectrum and around the globe, including the ACLU, Witness for Peace, Drug Policy Alliance, and the International Drug Policy Consortium (a global network of 106[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–September 5, 2013. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending August 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 332,000. The 4-week moving average was 328,500, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week’s revised[Read More…]

En Route St. Petersburg, Russia–(ENEWSPF)–September 5, 2013 – 11:50 A.M. CEST MR. CARNEY:  Welcome aboard Air Force One as we make our way from Stockholm, Sweden to St. Petersburg, Russia, where the President will be attending the G20 Summit.  The President very much enjoyed his visit to Sweden, his dinner[Read More…]

St. Petersburg, Russia–(ENEWSPF)–September 5, 2013 – 3:16 P.M. MSK PRIME MINISTER ABE:  (As interpreted.)  It is my great pleasure to have a bilateral meeting on the occasion of the G20 today.  Also, it was extremely meaningful for both of us to have a telephone conversation to discuss the situation in[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–September 4, 2013. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much, Ranking Member Engel – as the Chairman said, an early congressional leader on Syria – and to all the members of the committee. Let me just say, first of all, that I have enormous respect for the fact that everybody[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—September 4, 2013. This afternoon, on a bipartisan basis, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution authorizing U.S. military action in Syria. We commend the Senate for moving swiftly and for working across party lines on behalf of our national security. We believe America is stronger when the[Read More…]

SWEDEN–(ENEWSPF)–September 4, 2013.  The Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Finland, Republic of Iceland, Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Sweden, and the United States of America reaffirm our deep partnership based on shared fundamental values including our commitment to democracy, human rights, respect for the rule of law, and economic freedom. [Read More…]

Stockholm, Sweden—(ENEWSPF)—September 4, 2013 – 2:45 P.M. CEST   PRIME MINISTER REINFELDT:  It’s a great honor and pleasure for me to welcome President Barack Obama to Sweden.  As you all know, this is a historic event — the first bilateral visit ever by a President of the United States to[Read More…]