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Senate Adopts Patriot Act Reauthorization Without Necessary Reforms, ACLU Urges Congress to Better Protect Privacy and Freedoms of Americans
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union expressed profound disappointment with today’s Senate vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act without including common sense reforms to bring that law in line with the Constitution by restoring checks and balances. The House is expected to adopt a bill next week to amend the Patriot Act reauthorization bill conference report it passed last December.

Gonzales Responses on Warrantless NSA Spying Program Lacking, ACLU Says; Attorney General Failed to Address Fundamental Concerns from Lawmakers
WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales responded yesterday to inquiries from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the legality of the warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency, as authorized by President Bush. The American Civil Liberties Union today called the attorney general’s answers unsatisfactory, noting that they fail to address the fundamental questions surrounding the constitutionality of the illegal program.

ACLU Welcomes Senate Oversight Hearing on NSA Warrantless Eavesdropping; Legal Experts To Express Concerns About Constitutionality of Program
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Judiciary Committee held its second oversight hearing on the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency, the American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the move as a necessary step to help restore the rule of law. That panel heard from legal experts about the unconstitutionality of the illegal program of spying on Americans.

ACLU Urges House and Senate to Fix Patriot Act Reauthorization, Says Modest Changes to Protect Constitution Must Be Included Before Passage
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged both the House of Representatives and the Senate to adopt modest, but necessary changes before voting on reauthorization of the controversial Patriot Act. The Senate is expected to vote on legislation to reauthorize the 2001 anti-terrorism law on Wednesday; the House is expected to vote on an amendment to their reauthorization bill this week.

ACLU Rebukes White House Rejection of Special Counsel on Warrantless NSA Spying; Says Rhetoric of Legality Contradicts Refusal to Support Full Investigation
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned the White House’s refusal to appoint a special counsel to investigate the warrantless surveillance of Americans conducted by the National Security Agency under the direct approval of President Bush. The ACLU had asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to appoint a special counsel last December, a call that was echoed today by several House Democrats.

New Poll Shows Americans Reject NSA Warrantless Surveillance Program; Majority Recognize Importance of Checks and Balances Against Abuses of Power
WASHINGTON - A new poll commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union and released publicly today shows that a majority of American voters oppose the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency. The poll also shows a strong belief in the need for the executive branch to be subject to the checks and balances of the courts and Congress.

ACLU Hosts Presidents’ Day National Town Hall on Abuse of Power, Legal and Security Experts Discuss Warrantless Eavesdropping Program
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today hosted a National Town Hall meeting on Presidents’ Day to discuss the controversy surrounding the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency. The panelists addressed questions about the legality and constitutionality of the controversial program at a public forum held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

ACLU Welcomes Roberts' New Call For Oversight on Illegal NSA Program to Spy on Americans, Says Congress Still Needs to Fully and Openly Investigate Before Any Changes
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed an announcement from Senate Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) that he now believes that the president's domestic spying program must be subject to an independent judicial check. His announcement comes on the heels of a public backlash against word of an attempted backroom deal between Roberts and the White House to exempt the illegal spying by the National Security Agency from the federal statute that requires judicial review. That law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), was passed to protect Americans' fundamental Fourth Amendment right to privacy. Senator Roberts has now indicated that he thinks the surveillance must be placed under the review of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Congress must ensure that any proposals to amend FISA protect Americans' rights under the Fourth Amendment and continue to provide a role for thorough legislative oversight.

California State Legislature Asks Congress to Fix the Patriot Act; Restore Checks and Balances
WASHINGTON -- In yet another appeal for commonsense reforms to the Patriot Act, the state of California on Thursday passed a bipartisan resolution calling on Congress to revisit the controversial legislation and make the changes necessary to bring it in line with the Constitution. On Thursday the Senate voted 96-3 against changes urged by Senator Russell D. Feingold (D-WI), paving the way for renewal of the act before its expiration on March 10. The Senate is expected to renew the act without making the most needed changes to protect freedom and privacy, after passing a bill that would make a few changes to the conference report passed by the House last December.

ACLU Urges Senate to Demand Information on Illegal NSA Spying Program, As Federal Court Orders Justice Department to Turn Over Documents
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to formally request documents from the White House and Department of Justice regarding the warrantless National Security Agency domestic spying program. This follows two resolutions that came before the House Judiciary Committee yesterday that also called for information about the illegal wiretapping program.

Despite New Compromise, ACLU Says Patriot Act Debate Far From Over, Pledges to Continue to Work With Bipartisan Allies For Meaningful Changes
WASHINGTON - With a vote to reauthorize the expiring provisions of the Patriot Act all but certain, the American Civil Liberties Union today pledged to continue to work with its bipartisan allies - from across the political spectrum - to reform the anti-terrorism law passed in haste immediately after 9/11. The Senate is expected to renew the Patriot Act without making the most needed changes to protect freedom and privacy, after passing a related bill that would make a few changes to the conference report passed by the House last December.

ACLU Rebukes Backdoor Plans to Legalize Warrantless NSA Spying Program, As Judge Rules Justice Department Must Turn Over Documents
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly condemned an apparent backroom deal between Senate Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and the White House to try to change domestic surveillance laws to permit the warrantless surveillance of Americans conducted by the National Security Agency.

ACLU Urges House to Adopt Request for Illegal NSA Spying Documents
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House Judiciary Committee to adopt several resolutions that would formally request any and all documents relating to the illegal National Security Agency domestic spying program authorized by President Bush.

ACLU Says National Security Whistleblower Protections Lacking, Calls For Corrections to Critical Shortcomings in Current Law
WASHINGTON - Citing growing concerns over court decisions that have weakened laws designed to protect whistleblowers, the American Civil Liberties Union today called on Congress to enact stronger protections for whistleblowers, especially those in the national security arena. Legislation that would take steps to correct some shortcomings in whistleblower law - but without critical protections for national security whistleblowers - was the subject of a hearing held by a panel of the House Government Reform Committee.

Senate Intelligence Committee Holds Closed Hearing on Warrantless NSA Program; As Reports Indicate that Illegally Obtained Information Was Used to Obtain Warrants
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union expressed disappointment at the closed-door hearing held today by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the warrantless spying by the National Security Agency. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and General Michael Hayden, the deputy director of national intelligence, are expected to testify. The hearing coincides with revelations that the head of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) was warned that information illegally obtained by NSA may have been used to obtain wiretap warrants.

ACLU Calls for End to Secure Flight and Registered Traveler Programs, Says TSA Passenger Screening Plans Fail to Identify Threats
WASHINGTON - Appearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged Congress to end two fatally flawed, airline passenger pre-screening systems operated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA): Secure Flight and the Registered Traveler program. Both programs make America less safe while violating travelers’ civil liberties.

ACLU Says Critical Changes to Patriot Act Still Needed, Modest But Meaningful Reforms Would Better Protect Freedom and Privacy
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed disappointment at the announcement of a deal between the White House and key lawmakers to reauthorize the Patriot Act without the most needed changes to protect freedom and privacy. Just last week, the act was extended until March 10, 2006 to allow more time for debate and negotiations.

ACLU Urges House Committee to Act on Torture and Extraordinary Rendition, Says Adoption of Resolutions of Inquiry A Necessary Step
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House International Relations Committee to adopt three resolutions of inquiry directing the Bush administration to provide all documents on the development and implementation of its torture and extraordinary rendition policies. The committee is expected to meet this afternoon.

Attorney General Gonzales Refuses to Answer Questions From Senators, Fails to Address Concerns Surrounding Illegal NSA Spying on Americans
WASHINGTON -- Appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales failed to answer direct, yet simple questions from senators surrounding the warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency. The American Civil Liberties Union condemned that lack of transparency, noting that part of the role of the executive is to provide the legislative branch with ample information for proper oversight.

ACLU Says President Ignored State of Civil Liberties in Address; Bush Failed to Answer Questions on Patriot Act, NSA Spying
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked President Bush for failing to adequately address serious civil liberties concerns about his administration's actions since 9/11 in his State of the Union address delivered Tuesday. Specifically, the president failed to answer questions raised - from all points of the political spectrum - on his warrantless domestic spying program conducted by the National Security Agency and the over intrusive powers in the Patriot Act.