For Immediate Release

May 6, 1999

Contact: Kevin D. Geary
Phone: (202) 225-8104
Fax: (202) 225-8890
Cell: (202) 744-0067
e-mail: kevin.geary@mail.house.gov

Statement of Rep. Anna Eshoo on Bernstein vs. the Justice Department Ruling

Washington, D.C. - "I'm pleased the federal appeals court has affirmed Federal District Court Judge Marilyn Patel's original decision that in the name of national defense, the U.S. government should not restrict the very liberties it is supposed to be defending. This decision demonstrates the judicial branch's understanding of the encryption debate. Now is the time for Congress and the Administration to follow suit. This means passing and signing into law the SAFE ACT, which will promote the ever increasing growth of electronic commerce in a secure environment."

Rep. Eshoo is an original cosponsor of H.R. 850, the Security and Freedom through Encryption (SAFE) Act, which would allow U.S. manufacturers to export encryption software no more powerful than software already available in other countries. As a member of the House Commerce Committee, which has partial jurisdiction over the legislation, she has fought Administration efforts to weaken the SAFE Act and impose harsher encryption export curbs than currently exist. Rep. Eshoo hosted a major conference on encryption reform at Stanford University during the 104th Congress.

-30-

Please send any questions or comments to webmaster@eff.org