Groups Pushing For Action Thursday On Internet Piracy Bill

Several groups are pushing the Senate Judiciary Committee to act Nov 18 on legislation that would crack down on online piracy and counterfeiting.

The legislation, sponsored by Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is on the committee's agenda for its Nov 18 markup along with several nominations and other bills. Only one of the nominations is viewed as controversial at this point. Several sources say they expect the committee to get to the online piracy bill if it can muster the necessary number of members needed to report legislation out of committee. Leahy said earlier this week that "he'd love" to move the bill at Thursday's markup. The committee released a lengthy list of supporters. They included letters of support sent Wednesday from the Newspaper Association of America and a group of trade unions.

"We appreciate the leadership you have shown with your efforts to move this legislation through the Senate and urge you to continue to push for its enactment during the time remaining in the 111th Congress," according to the letter from such labor groups including the American Federation of Musicians, Communications Workers of America, International Brotherhood of Electrical Engineers and the Teamsters. "The industries most directly impacted by these rogue websites are among the most vibrant and important in the country; the entertainment and manufacturing sectors provide excellent wages and benefits to American working families and in these very difficult economic times are precisely the types of jobs we cannot afford to lose."