January 13, 2012

Wyden Statement on the Letter to Senator Reid Calling for More Time to Consider PIPA and Dropping of DNS Provision in SOPA

Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement in response to a letter sent from six members of the Senate Judiciary Committee including Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R- Iowa) asking Majority Leader Harry Reid(D- Nev.) to delay consideration of the Protect IP Act (PIPA), citing concerns that substantive issues in the legislation have not been addressed. Wyden also responds to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith’s (R-Texas) proposed removal of controversial Domain Name System provisions from the House’s version of Protect IP known as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced yesterday that he would also modify the DNS provisions.

“PIPA and SOPA would inflict severe harm to the Internet and undermine our national interest.  The 11th-hour changes that the sponsors of the bills are proposing, and the letter of concern sent by Senator Grassley and others, are proof that both bills require further discussion and study before being considered by the House or the Senate.  The DNS provisions in PIPA and SOPA are clearly unacceptable, but they are far from the only problems with the legislation.  I agree with Senator Grassley and other senators that more time is needed to determine the best course of action that will narrowly target truly “rogue” foreign websites without undermining speech and innovation.”  

Click here to read the letter.

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