[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 21357-21358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, I understand cloture has been filed on 
the motion to proceed to the PIPA legislation. As one of the bipartisan 
group of Senators who strongly objects to proceeding to this bill, I 
believe it is important to begin to outline the very real dangers that 
are posed by the bill.
  The primary architects of the Internet and our leading cyber security 
experts have made it clear this legislation will undermine the key 
technologies that prevent fraud and protect consumers on the Internet.
  Our Nation's leading first amendment scholars have made it clear that 
this bill poses a serious threat to speech and civil liberties for all 
who use the Internet, and our Nation's leading technology employers 
warn that this bill presents a clear and present danger to innovation 
and job growth in an area that is going to be a major source of new 
jobs for this century.
  Today, along with Senator Moran of Kansas and Senator Cantwell of 
Washington, I have introduced the OPEN Act. We believe this is a 
reasonable and bipartisan alternative to the PIPA bill and to the 
legislation that is before the other body, and we hope the Senate will 
take the time to consider alternatives before taking action that could 
deal an enormous body blow to a vital job engine for our economy.
  Over the past few weeks, more than 1 million Americans have weighed 
in strongly in opposition to this legislation. Therefore, I will be 
working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle over the next month 
to explain the basis for this widespread concern, and I intend to 
follow through on a commitment that I made more than 1 year ago to 
filibuster this bill when the Senate returns in January.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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