Sohn called on the committee to withdraw the draft legislation and instead "pursue an open dialogue with the public" on copyright issues.

"It makes little sense to add to the bureaucracy when the current copyright system is in desperate need of modernization," she wrote. "If the committee is to divert more taxpayer resources towards improving the copyright system, it should start with so that artists big and small can get paid."

A Judiciary Committee spokeswoman downplayed Public Knowledge's concerns. The bill draft was posted online, but pulled when committee members decided it wasn't ready to be voted on, she said. A new version will be posted online before the committee acts, she said.

"Unfortunately, some groups and blogs have misreported that this is a follow-up to the Stop Online Piracy Act," she added. "That is not the case."

The committee has met with groups that opposed and supported SOPA on the draft bill, she added. The bill would ensure the better use of funds for the attaché °rogram, she said.