Congress and The Net Events designed to encourage members of Congress to work with the Internet community on vital Internet policy issues and to bring the Internet Community into the debate about those issues.
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On March 29, 1996, a bi-partisan group of members from both the House and Senate announced the formation of the Congressional Internet Caucus. The group, co-founded by Reps. Rick White (R-WA), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Senators Larry Pressler (R-SD) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) will work to educate members of Congress about how the Internet works, bring more members of Congress online, and encourage the use of the Net to facilitate better communication between members of Congress and their constituents.

• CDT Policy Post 2.13 - Net-Friendly Legislators Form Internet Caucus
• The Internet Caucus web site

Democracy.net is dedicated to exploring ways of enhancing citizen participation in the democratic process via the Internet. To this end, democracy.net hosts live, interactive cybercasts of Congressional Hearings and online town hall meetings with key policy makers.

Previous Events

• Democracy.Net cybercast the Senate Commerce Hearing on the Pro-CODE Encryption Bill on March 19.

• On Thursday July 25, 1996, the Full Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing to consider S. 1726, the 'Pro-CODE' bill designed to relax export controls on encryption. FBI Director Louis Freeh and other high-ranking Administration officials testified before the committee. A second panel of computer industry leaders, including Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale and others, will also gave testimony. More information, including photos and an audio transcript, is no longer available.

• On June 26, 1996, HotWired, DIGEX, Voters Telecommunications Watch, and the Center for Democracy and Technology organized the first ever interactive hearing on Capitol Hill. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) chaired a hearing of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Space and Technology; the hearing focused on U.S. encryption policy, specifically on Sen. Burns's own "Pro-CODE" legislation. An audio transcript of the event is no longer available.

• On June 11, 1996, Senator Burns discussed his "Pro-CODE" encryption legislation on HotWired's WiredSide Chat. An audio transcript of that chat session is no longer available.
  (Must have RealAudio properly configured on your browser to listen to the transcript.)

• Congressman Rick White (R-WA) discussed the Communications Decency Act court case, current cryptography policy, and other Internet issues on HotWired's WiredSide chat on June 5, 1996. An audio transcript is no longer available.
  (Must have RealAudio properly configured on your browser to listen to the transcript.)

• Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) discussed encryption policy and other Internet issues on HotWired's WiredSide chat on May 22, 1996. An audio transcript is no longer available.
  (Must have RealAudio properly configured on your browser to listen to the transcript.)

• Senator Burns discussed his "PRO-Code" encryption legislation in America Online's News Room Auditorium on May 6, 1996. The transcript of that chat session is no longer available.