BILL OF RIGHTS CALL-IN

Written by Melanie Knight

Thursday, 03 May 2007 10:36

The Bush Administration's proposed bill to "modernize" the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) would make its recent promise to end its warrantless wiretapping program virtually meaningless. For example, the bill's proposed redefinition of "electronic surveillance" would allow warrantless surveillance of all Americans' international calls and emails--so long as by sweeping up the content of everyone's communications they are not targeting anyone in particular. The proposal would also allow the government to collect information about Americans' domestic and international calls and emails (whom you contacted, when, length of contact, etc.) without warrants. And, it would provide legal authority for warrantless access to purely domestic e-mails and cell phone calls, if the NSA doesn't "reasonably believe" you and all the people you communicate with are located in the US.

Calls Are Needed Now!

Dear Columbia, SC Committee: Carolina,

Calls Are Needed Now! The good news is that this bill cannot take America back to the days of warrantless domestic surveillance unless Congress gives in. Don't let that happen! Let's make sure every member of Congress hears from their constituents. Your letter to the editor can also inform the public and the press about this very real threat. Feel free to use the talking points below or the suggested resources at the end of this message to compose a letter to your local newspaper.

Please call both your senators and your representative right away. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 (24 hours) and ask the operator to connect you. Or click here <http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ to look up your senators' and representative's telephone numbers by zip code. (Note: The administration's proposed "FISA Modernization Act" currently has no bill number. However, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will hold a hearing on the bill on Tuesday, May 1.)

Suggested Talking Points. Tell the person who answers the telephone your name and that you are a constituent and you vote. Choose one or two points to make about the proposed bill, such as the following examples:

* The Bush Administration's bill to rewrite the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is a radical step backward that will actually expand the NSA's warrantless surveillance of Americans' conversations and communications.

* You are troubled by the bill's revised definition of "electronic surveillance," which would exempt surveillance of millions of Americans' communications that currently require FISA warrants, despite the Fourth Amendment's promise of privacy and warrants.

* The bill lets the phone companies and Internet service providers off the hook, even after they violated long-standing federal law by giving the NSA access to their customers' conversations, e-mails, and phone records without the required warrants. The bill also pardons anyone in the government who aided in the warrantless electronic surveillance of Americans.

* FISA should not be weakened. The law was written to protect Americans from government spying, while giving the government tools to conduct surveillance on spies and foreign terrorists. The Bush Administration is again asking for a blank check, after it violated public trust by illegally creating the warrantless wiretapping program in the first place.

* At the administration's request, Congress has "modernized" FISA several times since 9/11, beginning with the USA PATRIOT Act. New technologies that make it much easier for the government to vacuum up whole streams of our communication data and other personal information call for stronger protections-NOT more sweeping government spying powers.

The administration has not made a case for the sweeping changes it is requesting, other than repeating the same fear-inducing terms it has used to expand executive power--such as claims about "weapons of mass destruction." The law already provides ample authority to monitor terrorist plots, with court supervision of surveillance on these shores. Clearly the requested changes go too far.

When we act locally to stop national threats to our privacy, freedoms and Bill of Rights protections, we can make a difference! Together, we will restore the Bill of Rights. Please join with other grassroots activists from around the U.S. to make a stand against these new threats to our civil liberties.

Thank you for all you do.

Nancy Talanian, Director

Hope Marston, West Region Organizer

Ben Grosscup, East Region Organizer

Susan Heitker, Administrator

Bill of Rights Defense Committee

http://www.bordc.org

For more information:

* Bill analysis by the Center for National Security Studies:

http://www.cnss.org/FinalCNSS%20FISA%20Memo%204.19.07.pdf

* Bill analysis by the Center for Democracy & Technology:

http://www.cdt.org/security/20070418fisaanalysis.pdf