From: "Declan B. McCullagh" <declan+@CMU.EDU>
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 1996 11:23:00 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Open letter from the Congressional Internet Caucus
In-Reply-To: <315C21A7.37BF@hr.house.gov>
Message-ID: <YlKzx6u00YUv04QVsG@andrew.cmu.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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---------- Forwarded message begins here ----------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 09:45:11 -0800
From: Congressional Internet Caucus <inetcauc@hr.house.gov>
Organization: U.S. House of Representatives
X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.0 (Win16; I)
Mime-Version: 1.0
To: fight-censorship+@andrew.cmu.edu
Subject: Open letter from the Congressional Internet Caucus

To the Internet Community at-large,

Finally, there is something that both Democrats and Republicans can agree
on -- it is time to get Congress on-line for the 21st Century.

Over the past few years, the Internet has changed the way we communicate,
do business and educate our children. Millions of people log-on to the
Internet each day to send and receive information. And this new medium 
has
created thousands of new jobs in our nation's economy.

As more and more people go on-line and as the Internet becomes a greater
part of our daily lives, new questions arise about how to deal with this
new medium. Members of Congress are having to make policy decisions on
Internet issues that will impact our future.

What role, if any, will the federal government have in developing the
Internet? How will Congress respond to Internet-related issues? From
encryption to indecency, copyright protection to universal service,
Congress will need to make prudent public policy decisions about a medium
that presents such enormous opportunities for all Americans.

Congress must not make these decisions without the full understanding of
and familiarity with the Internet.

The Internet will also transform Congress and the government. From
communicating with constituents to making government documents available
on-line, we need to move into the Information Age NOW.

Members of Congress need to use the Internet.

To solve some of these problems, we are forming the Internet Caucus: a
bipartisan, bicameral group of members with diverse viewpoints. What we
share is a mutual concern for promoting the Internet. We will not just 
talk
the talk. Caucus members will walk the walk into cyberspace by signing a
pledge to 1) educate themselves about the Internet, 2) get on-line, 3) 
and
educate other members about the Internet.

The caucus will also serve as a clearinghouse of information for the 
public
and other offices about Internet related issues. With the assistance of 
an
advisory committee comprised of public interest groups, industry, and
respected experts on the Internet, members will discuss and debate policy
options.

We look forward to getting your input on the many issues before Congress.
See you on-line!

Sincerely,

Congressman Rick White
http://www.house.gov/white/

Senator Patrick Leahy
http://www.house.gov/~leahy

Congressman Rick Boucher
http://www.house.gov/boucher/welcome.htm

Senator Larry Pressler
http://www.senate.gov/senator/pressler.html

Speaker Newt Gingrich
mailto:georgia6@hr.house.gov

Congressman Jack Fields

Congressman Edward Markey

Congressman Mike Oxley
http://www.house.gov/oxley/welcome.html

Congressman Christopher Cox

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
http://www-eshoo.house.gov/

Congressman Bob Goodlatte
mailto:talk2bob@hr.house.gov

Congressman Tom Campbell
mailto:campbell@hr.house.gov

Congressman Robert Walker
http://www.house.gov/walker/welcome.html

Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn
mailto:dunnwa08@hr.house.gov

Congressman Vern Ehlers
http://www.house.gov/ehlers/welcome.html

Senator Slade Gorton
http://www.senate.gov/senator/gorton.html

Senator Conrad Burns
http://www.senate.gov/~burns

Senator Ron Wyden
http://www.senate.gov/senator/wyden.html

Congressman Sam Farr
http://www.house.gov/farr/welcome.html

Congressman Bill Luther
http://www.house.gov/luther/welcome.html