Both the new Congress and the Bush administration are busy these days wrangling over things like the mass firings of federal prosecutors and the leaking of the names of CIA operatives. In the midst of all the media frenzy, it’s reassuring to know that Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) have introduced bills to roll back many of the immoral and perhaps unconstitutional provisions of the new Military Commissions Act.
UUSC and colleague organizations vigorously opposed the new law adopted in the waning months of the last Congress. Among its more outrageous provisions, the Military Commissions Act allows certain interrogation techniques for terror suspects that are widely regarded as torture, continues the secret CIA role in interrogating terrorism suspects, and denies prisoners – many of whom have not been charged with anything – the habeas corpus right to challenge their detentions in federal court.
The legislation to undo some of these outrages has just been introduced, but it’s not too early to tell your senators and representative how you feel on the issue. UUSC is a founding member of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, which is urging its colleague organizations and other human rights groups to join a Call-Into-Congress initiative this week.
When the new law was signed by President Bush last fall, thousands of activists sent him their own “Citizens’ Signing Statement” on how they would interpret the legislation. You can add your voice by visiting our Legislative Action Center.
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