Knowing of our shared interest in protecting free expression on the internet, I write you with this update on HR 3261, the so-called "Stop Online Piracy Act" or SOPA. As you know, I was an early opponent of this bill and have already urged the House Judiciary Committee to reject its overly broad language, which would force Internet Service Providers to implement various filtering technologies on their networks. Last week's internet "blackout," in which many websites restricted their content to demonstrate the destructive nature of SOPA, served to draw much-needed attention to this ill-advised legislation. I have attached below a recent Politico story that discusses how many of my colleagues in Congress are now withdrawing their support for the bills. Last Friday, Lamar Smith announced he was delaying further hearings on SOPA and Senator Harry Reid announced that a vote on SOPA's Senate companion the "PROTECT IP Act" has been postponed; a response to the strong backlash against these bills.

With so many Texans expressing strong opposition to SOPA, we are making good progress in increasing awareness of the dangers SOPA poses. However, we should not to let up in our efforts to keep innovation alive and the internet open.

Please keep me advised of any federal matters with which I may be of assistance. I would really like to hear your thoughts on other issues that may be considered in Congress. If you have not already, please take a moment to visit my website at doggett.house.gov where you can complete a survey online. I also hope that you will take this opportunity to visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Your views are very important to me.

Sincerely,
Lloyd Doggett

Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (the PROTECT IP Act, or PIPA). The parallel, but not identical, legislation in the House of Representatives is H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). I welcome your thoughts and comments.

I did not cosponsor this legislation. By letter, e-mail, and telephone call, thousands of constituents like you have highlighted the potential pitfalls in the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who was a strong supporter of PIPA, has withdrawn the bill from Senate floor consideration. I agree with this decision. Although there are legitimate issues to be addressed regarding so-called internet piracy, I believe that several provisions of the current legislation need to be clarified or revised.

Protecting intellectual property is more challenging than ever before. For example, high speed broadband enables access to the entire catalog of movies, music, books, television, and technology. These protections should not censor free speech, nor should they hinder innovation.

Online promotion of counterfeit goods by foreign entities is also a growing concern. Assessing how to protect copyright, patent, and intellectual property rights — and doing so without infringing on consumers’ legitimate interests — requires dealing with a complex series of problems.

Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind should this bill or related legislation be reported to the floor for action by the full Senate. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator