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ACLU Demands Disclosure of Legal Memos Justifying Illegal Spying (12/18/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Security Archive and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) today filed papers urging a federal judge to compel the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose legal and policy memos relating to the National Security Agency’s (NSA) warrantless wiretapping program. Two years after the media’s disclosure that the NSA was secretly intercepting the phone calls and emails of people in the United States without a warrant in direct violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the government continues to withhold documents that could shed light on its legal justification for the program.

ACLU Demands Update on Status of NSA Surveillance Program As Re-Authorization Deadline Passes (04/11/2007)
WASHINGTON - Following a crucial deadline for the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program, the American Civil Liberties Union today called on the administration to explain the status of the operation and urged Congress to fully investigate violations of the law.

ACLU, JACL and ADC Alarmed that Census Violated Privacy in World War II, Urges Congress to Ensure Similar Actions Are Not Happening Now (03/30/2007)
WASHINGTON - Following reports in USA Today that the Census Bureau gave American surveillance agencies information on persons of Japanese Ancestry during World War II, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) urged Congress to investigate and ensure that such practices do not occur today.

ACLU Applauds Harman Bill to Rein in Power Abused by FBI, Follows House Panel’s Questions Regarding National Security Letters (03/28/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA), Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, for introducing legislation to rein in the National Security Letter authority expanded by the Patriot Act. Her move follows a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing where members grilled government witnesses on the recent revelations that the FBI abused the NSL authority.

Senate Must Fix Shortfalls in Real ID Act, ACLU Says; Panel Examines Anti-Privacy Law for First Time (03/26/2007)
WASHINGTON - Appearing before a key Senate panel, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged Congress to examine the Real ID Act and take steps to correct the civil liberties and privacy failures in the law.

ACLU Says Gutierrez-Flake Immigration Bill Falls Short, Proposal Sensitive to Due Process, But Undermines Privacy (03/23/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today said that a bipartisan immigration reform bill, introduced by Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), while a welcome first step, falls short from a civil liberties perspective. Although the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy (STRIVE) Act of 2007 does not include the many due process deprivations that have plagued other so-called immigration "reform" legislation, it would violate privacy through the creation of a de facto national identification card.

ACLU Launches Advertising Campaign to Restore Due Process Rights, Targets Key Senators and Presidential Primary States (03/20/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today launched a new radio campaign to build support for legislation that would restore habeas corpus and other due process protections eliminated by the Military Commission Act of 2006. The ads, targeting key Senators and audiences in presidential primary states, urge listeners to "Never give up a right that defines us as Americans."

ACLU: Congress Must Investigate Claims Gonzales Shut Down NSA Review to Escape Scrutiny (03/15/2007)
WASHINGTON - Following reports by the National Journal that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales advised President Bush to shut down an internal review of the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance program due to the possibility that his own actions would be scrutinized, the American Civil Liberties Union today renewed its call for a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate the program.

ACLU Urges Key House Panel To Grill FCC on NSA Spying, NSL Abuses; Says Commission Has Duty to Protect American’s Privacy (03/14/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet to force the Federal Communications Commission to hold telecommunication companies accountable for their role in facilitating the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance and the use of National Security Letters.

U.S. Civil Rights Commission Examines NSA Warrantless Spying, ACLU Urges Full Hearings, Thorough Inquiry (03/09/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today appeared before the United States Commission on Civil Rights as that body, for the first time ever, took up the issue of the warrantless domestic spying program conducted by the National Security Agency. The commission, by statute, has an oversight function and duty to appraise the federal government’s administration of justice.

Idaho Becomes Second State to Reject Real ID, ACLU Applauds Move, Urges Other States to Follow Suit (03/08/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded Idaho for becoming the second state in the nation to reject participation in the Real ID Act. That law, enacted in 2005, lays the foundation for a national identity card.

New Regulations Get an ‘F’ in Solving Problems With Real ID Act, ACLU Scorecard Shows (03/08/2007)
WASHINGTON - An American Civil Liberties Union scorecard analysis of the proposed new federal regulations on the Real ID Act, which was released today, finds that the regulations solve only 9 percent of problems with the legislation that have been identified.

ACLU Lauds Markey Bill to End Extraordinary Rendition, Calls Government Sponsored Kidnapping and Torture Un-American (03/06/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) for introducing legislation to ban extraordinary rendition. The "Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act" would forever stop the federal government from secretly kidnapping people and sending them to torture cells run by foreign governments.

ACLU Urges Lawmakers to Support Free Speech Rights of Servicemembers (03/06/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee and Congressman John Tierney (D-MA), Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs for holding hearings to investigate the mistreatment of veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

ACLU Slams Draft DHS Regulations on Real ID, Says Delay Fails to Address Privacy and Civil Liberties Concerns (03/01/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today slammed draft regulations for the implementation of the Real ID Act released by the Department of Homeland Security, calling them a "real nightmare" for America that will only lead to a national identity card system that violates personal privacy, bigger bureaucratic messes, longer lines, increased identity theft and higher fees.

ACLU Praises Akaka-Sununu Real ID Repair Proposal, Says Measure Provides Needed Privacy and Civil Liberties Safeguards (02/28/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the introduction of a bipartisan measure authored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and John Sununu (R-NH) that would add critical privacy and civil liberties safeguards to the Real ID Act. Their proposal, the "Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2007" would fix several shortcomings of the controversial Real ID Act adopted by Congress.

ACLU: Senator Collins’ Real ID Amendment is Not a Real Solution; Proposal Fails to Address Law’s Fundamental Flaws (02/28/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today said that the proposal introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to delay the implementation of the Real ID Act by two years, fails to resolve the law’s fundamental privacy and civil liberties concerns.

ACLU Issues Real ID "Scorecard," Checklist Provides Framework For Evaluation of Upcoming Regulations (02/21/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today released a "scorecard" for evaluating Real ID Act regulations that are expected to be released soon by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The rules will provide the states with precise instructions on how to implement the act, which seeks to create a backdoor national identity card system by federalizing state driver’s licenses.

ACLU’s Top Lobbyist Urges Congress to Protect Freedom of Information Act, Says Government Transparency Vital to American Democracy (02/14/2007)
WASHINGTON - Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office, today appeared before a key House panel to discuss the Freedom of Information Act. Since the enactment of FOIA in 1966, the ACLU has used that crucial law to shed light on the government’s actions and abuses.

Senator Dodd Introduces Military Commissions Act Fix Bill; ACLU Applauds Move, Urges Congress to Restore Due Process (02/13/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) for introducing legislation to restore the Constitution and the basic American value of due process to detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. The "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007" would also fix many of the problems contained in the Military Commissions Act passed by Congress last year.

ACLU Lauds Senate Hearing on Science Saying, "Fund Research Not Ideology" (02/07/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union applauded the Senate Commerce Committee’s hearing today on oversight of government research on climate change, noting that recent government funded scientific studies have often put politics above facts.

ACLU Urges Congress to Support Additional Safeguards and Reliability in Electronic Voting Systems (02/07/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union called on Congress to support measures to improve electronic voting systems and protect Americans’ full voting rights. In a Senate Rules Committee hearing held today, speakers detailed the need for electronic voting systems such as Direct Recording Electronic machines (DREs) to accurately record, count, tabulate, and report votes.

Bush Administration Fails to Sign Accord on Secret Detentions; ACLU Says Programs Must be Shut Down Permanently (02/07/2007)
WASHINGTON - Responding to the Bush administration's decision not to sign an international accord regarding secret detentions and forced disappearances, the American Civil Liberties Union today expressed disappointment and urged Congress to examine the government's policies and practices that would have conflicted with the agreement -- and to shut down permanently all secret detention programs and facilities and end the practice of illegal kidnapping.

ACLU Says Gonzales’ Release of NSA Surveillance Details A First Step, Calls on Congress to Conduct Vigorous Oversight (01/31/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today said an announcement from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that he will allow key lawmakers to see secret documents on the government's National Security Agency surveillance program under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court a good first step, but urged him to provide Congress with the full details on the program. The announcement comes on the same day that the ACLU appeared before a federal appeals court to challenge the program.

Maine Becomes First State to Reject Flawed Real ID Act; ACLU Applauds Move That Foils Plans For National ID System (01/25/2007)
WASHINGTON - The state of Maine today became the first state to reject participation in the Real ID Act - the federal law that lays the foundation for a national identity card. The American Civil Liberties Union applauded the move and predicted that it would be just the first in a cascade of state refusals.

ACLU: The State of Civil Liberties in America is Precarious (01/23/2007)
WASHINGTON - "As President Bush delivers his State of the Union address, it is essential that we bear in mind that for six years the policies of the Bush administration have threatened and undermined the very essence of a free and democratic America. The state of our civil liberties is precarious.

ACLU Seeks Information on Government Ratings of Travelers (12/13/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking information about the Department of Homeland Security’s Automated Targeting System (ATS) terror-ranking program and renewed its call to Congress for the program to be shut down.

ACLU Lauds Akaka-Sununu Real ID Fix Bill, Says Additional Privacy and Civil Liberties Safeguards Still Needed (12/11/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the introduction of bipartisan legislation authored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and John Sununu (R-NH) that would add privacy and civil liberties safeguards to the Real ID Act. The "Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2006" would address several of the shortcomings of the controversial legislation adopted last year, including the establishment of a National ID.

ACLU's Top Lobbyist Urges Privacy Board To Act to Protect Civil Liberties (12/05/2006)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union’s top lobbyist, Caroline Fredrickson, appeared today at the first public hearing of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to urge the board to conduct aggressive investigation and oversight over the administration’s dismantling of the civil liberties of all Americans.

ACLU Calls on DHS to Withdraw Plan For Tagging Americans With 40-Year “Risk Assessments” (12/01/2006)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned an unprecedented new program for generating terrorist ratings on tens of millions of travelers, including American citizens, maintaining those ratings for 40 years, and making them available throughout the government.

ACLU Lauds Justice Watchdog’s Investigation of NSA Program (11/27/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Justice Department’s Inspector General for opening an investigation into the department’s role in the warrantless wiretapping program conducted by the National Security Agency. The White House agreed last week to give the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) the security clearances necessary to conduct the inquiry.

ACLU Urges Senate to Reject New Specter NSA Legislation, Bill Would Face Reconciliation with Flawed Wilson Measure (11/14/2006)
WASHINGTON - As Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) today introduced the "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Oversight and Resource Enhancement Act of 2006," the American Civil Liberties Union renewed its call to Congress to reject any legislation that would authorize the illegal and warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency.

ACLU Applauds GAO Letter in Support of Medically Accurate Sex Education for Teens (10/19/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded a letter issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) stating that federally funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are bound by federal law to provide medically accurate information about condom effectiveness. The GAO issued the letter yesterday to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which administers abstinence-only-until-marriage grants.

President Bush Signs Un-American Military Commissions Act, ACLU Says New Law Undermines Due Process and the Rule of Law (10/17/2006)
WASHINGTON - As President Bush signed S. 3930, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 into law, the American Civil Liberties Union expressed outrage and called the new law one of the worst civil liberties measures ever enacted in American history.

Intelligence Expert and Former FBI Agent Joins ACLU As National Security Counsel (10/05/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office appointed Michael German as Policy Counsel on National Security, Immigration and Privacy. A former FBI agent, German brings extensive national security and intelligence experience as well as a lifelong dedication to civil liberties.

ACLU Urges House to Reject President’s Power Grab,Says Wilson NSA Bill Undermines Constitutional Rights of All Americans (09/28/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the House of Representative began debate on H.R. 5825, the "Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act," the American Civil Liberties Union called on lawmakers to adopt a bipartisan motion to refer the bill back to the committees, and failing that, to reject the misguided proposal. Authored by Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM), the bill would give the president extraordinary power and authorize the warrantless surveillance program conducted by the National Security Agency.

Senate Passes Dangerous Bush Military Commissions Bill, ACLU Says Legislation Upends the Rule of Law (09/28/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union expressed distress as the Senate adopted S.3930, the Military Commissions Act of 2006. That bill is identical to legislation adopted by the House yesterday, and removes important checks on the president by: failing to protect due process, eliminating habeas corpus for many detainees, undermining enforcement of the Geneva Conventions, and giving a "get out of jail free card" to senior officials who authorized or ordered illegal torture and abuse.

ACLU Urges Congress to Reject Bush Military Commissions Bill, "Compromise" Lacks Due Process, Undermines Torture and Abuse Safeguards (09/27/2006)
WASHINGTON - As both chambers of Congress prepare to vote on legislation establishing a system of military commissions, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to reject the proposal, noting that the measure does not protect due process, guts the protections of habeas corpus, fails to meet international treaty obligations and would give the president authority to undermine safeguards against horrific abuse of detainees.

ACLU Decries Senate Republicans’ Switch on NSA Spying Bill, Says Latest Legislation Still Fails to Protect Rule of Law (09/25/2006)
WASHINGTON - Following an announcement that Senators Larry Craig (R-ID), John Sununu (R-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have dropped their objections and now support the administration’s flawed NSA warrantless surveillance bill, the American Civil Liberties Union decried the move as a failure to protect the rule of law.

ACLU Calls on House To Reject Defective Immigration Bills (09/21/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House of Representatives to reject two immigration related measures. H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act, and H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act, will be voted on today. Both proposals waste scarce resources, unacceptably reduce or eliminate due process for both legal and undocumented immigrants, expand constitutionally suspect detention removal powers and procedures, and threaten civil liberties.

New Military Commissions Compromise Gives License to Abuse Prisoners, ACLU Says Dangerous Proposal Must Be Rejected (09/21/2006)
WASHINGTON - Following announcements that an agreement has been reached between the White House and Senators John Warner (R-VA), John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on military commissions, the American Civil Liberties Union today said the compromise agreement does not protect due process, fails to meet international treaty obligations and urged lawmakers to reject the deal.

ACLU Slams House Panels’ Approval of Wilson NSA Spying Bill, Says Measure Undermines Constitution, Condones Abuse of Power (09/20/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked the House Judiciary Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as both committees approved H.R. 5825, the "Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act." That bill, authored by Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM) would give the president unprecedented power and authorize the warrantless surveillance program conducted by the National Security Agency.

House Panel Flip-Flops on Military Commission Bill, ACLU Says Proposal Undermines Due Process, Geneva Conventions (09/20/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned the House Judiciary Committee as that panel approved the White House’s proposal on military commissions after an earlier vote to reject it. Earlier, the committee failed, on a vote of 17-20, to approve H.R. 6054, with Representatives Jeff Flake (R-NM), Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) voting with the Democratic members. The committee then moved to report the proposal with an unfavorable recommendation. However, the committee later revisited the issue, and on a vote of 20-19, approved the bill favorably.

ACLU, JACL Urge Senate Panel to Reject Detention Without Charge, Says Approval Would Violate Constitution, American Values (09/14/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security met today to consider differences between American and British anti-terrorism laws, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) urged lawmakers to reject any proposal to give the government the power to detain individuals indefinitely without charge, citing serious civil liberties concerns.

ACLU Slams Senate Judiciary Committee’s Approval of NSA Spying Bills (09/13/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked the Senate Judiciary Committee for adopting legislation that approves warrantless spying on Americans by the National Security Agency. The move follows a recent court decision finding the surveillance both illegal and unconstitutional. The Bush administration has thus far stonewalled efforts by the committee to conduct meaningful oversight over the program.

House Panel Passes Flawed Military Commission Bill, ACLU Urges Congress to Stand for Due Process and Rule of Law (09/13/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned legislation passed by the House Armed Services Committee that establishes rules to try detainees. The bill also would amend the War Crimes Act to gut the Geneva Conventions.

ACLU and Allies Oppose Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Say Plan Undermines Privacy, Provides Little Security (09/07/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today joined with Citizen Against Government Waste and the Cato Institute to oppose the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI will require all travelers, including American citizens, to have a passport or other "appropriate security document" to enter or re-enter the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere, including Canada and Mexico.

ACLU Demands House Reject Attempts to “Update” FISA, Says Constitution Must Not Be Undermined in Election-Year Tactic (09/06/2006)
WASHINGTON - Today the American Civil Liberties Union urged the House of Representatives to reject attempts to erode Fourth Amendment protections under the guise of "updating" the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), as the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security met to consider several proposals that would condone President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program.

ACLU: Bush Guts Geneva Conventions Enforcement and Undermines Due Process (09/06/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed opposition to the president’s proposal to try detainees and to amend the War Crimes Act to gut enforceability of the Geneva Conventions. In addition, the Department of Defense released an updated Army Field Manual on Interrogations that diminishes protections against abuse. At the same time, the president has also directed at least 14 prisoners held at CIA secret "black sites" to be transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and tried there.

Attorney General Gonzales Calls for Ratification of Illegal NSA Program, ACLU Urges Congress to Reject Call and Stand for the Constitution (08/16/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly condemned a call by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for Congress to legalize the warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency. Specifically, he supported a bill crafted by Vice-President Dick Cheney and Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) that would give the president the option of complying – or not – with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the protections of the Fourth Amendment.

ACLU Celebrates the 41st Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (08/04/2006)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union recognizes and celebrates the 41st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), the landmark legislation that addresses and seeks to remedy barriers to voting for millions of Americans. The ACLU recently applauded Congress for passing by an overwhelming margin legislation to reauthorize the expiring provisions of the VRA. President Bush signed the act July 27.

ACLU Disappointed with Senate Ratification of International Cybercrime Treaty, Measure Requires Government to Help Enforce Foreign Laws (08/04/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment with the Senate’s ratification of the "Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention," or Cybercrime Treaty. That international agreement was signed by President Bush in late 2003 and now requires the American government to enforce foreign laws that may violate the rights and liberties of Americans.

ACLU Urges Senate to Reject Draft White House Proposal on Detainees (08/02/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to ensure that any legislation regarding criminal trials of detainees being held indefinitely by the federal government includes the basic due process protections valued by all Americans. Both the Senate Armed Services and Judiciary Committees met today to examine the issue. Top government officials, including Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and the Judge Advocates General for the four armed services testified today on the administration’s position.

ACLU Applauds As President Bush Signs Voting Rights Act Reauthorization (07/27/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded President Bush as he signed into law the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006." Congress rejected attempts to dilute the original intent of the bill and passed a "clean" reauthorization bill, which renews key provisions that would otherwise expire in 2007.

ACLU Urges Congress to Uphold American Values in Detainee Trials (07/26/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the House Armed Services Committee met today to consider the procedures for criminal trials of detainees held by the federal government, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to ensure that any resulting legislation include the most basic due process protections valued by all Americans.

ACLU Urges House Panel To Reject "Public Expression of Religion Act," Calls Bill A Direct Attack on Individual Religious Freedom (07/26/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House Judiciary Committee to reject H.R. 2679, the "Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005" (PERA). The panel is expected to vote on the legislation today. The bill would bar the recovery of attorneys’ fees to citizens who win lawsuits asserting their fundamental constitutional and civil rights in cases brought under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

ACLU: FISA Must Not Be Gutted Under Pretext of "Modernization," President Must Show Respect for Rule of Law (07/26/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Judiciary Committee met to examine the issue of "modernizing" the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the American Civil Liberties Union urged Congress to reject attempts to further erode the Fourth Amendment and its protections. Since President Bush authorized the warrantless wiretapping and data-mining of Americans by the National Security Agency in 2001, FISA has been constantly violated.

ACLU Urges Senate To Reject Teen Endangerment Act, Says Measure Will Harm Young Women (07/25/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Senate to reject the Teen Endangerment Act, a dangerous measure that would restrict a young woman's ability to obtain an abortion outside of her home state even in a medical emergency. The legislation would put vulnerable young women at risk and is expected to be considered later today.

ACLU Slams Bush's Block of Justice Department Inquiry on NSA Spying (07/19/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked President Bush for his direct involvement with the suspension of an investigation by the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) into the warrantless surveillance program conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA).

ACLU Urges House Intelligence Committee to Protect Fourth Amendment, Says FISA Must Not Be Gutted in the Name of "Modernization" (07/19/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence met to consider the "modernization" of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the American Civil Liberties Union urged members of the panel to reject attempts to further erode the Fourth Amendment protections of ordinary Americans. That law has been constantly violated since President Bush in 2001 authorized the warrantless wiretapping and data-mining of Americans by the National Security Agency.

Gonzales Says CIA Detainees Protected by Geneva Conventions; Reversal Follows Similar Decision by the Department of Defense (07/19/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed testimony by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions applies, "without exception," to all detainees held by the government- including detainees held by the Central Intelligence Agency. That announcement, made Tuesday, follows last week’s announcement by the Department of Defense that Common Article 3 applies to all detainees held by the Defense Department.

ACLU Applauds House for Rejecting Discriminatory Constitutional Amendment (07/18/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the House of Representatives as it joined the Senate in overwhelmingly rejecting a discriminatory proposal to amend the Constitution to deny marriage protections to gay and lesbian couples and their children. Today’s move follows a similar rejection by both houses of Congress in 2004, and by the Senate last month.

ACLU Urges House to Reject Discriminatory Constitutional Amendment, Notes Senate Failed to Limit Debate on Measure in June (07/18/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House of Representatives to reject a discriminatory proposal to amend the Constitution to deny marriage protections to gay and lesbian couples and their children. Both houses of Congress overwhelmingly rejected an identical proposal in 2004, and the Senate in June failed to limit debate on the measure, effectively killing it. The House is expected to consider the amendment later today.

ACLU Welcomes New Policy Counsel James Tucker (07/06/2006)
WASHINGTON - The ACLU today announced the addition of James Tucker as a Policy Counsel working on First Amendment issues, centering on free speech and religious liberty.

ACLU Applauds House Defeat of Amendment to Defund the Voting Rights Act, Calls for Swift Passage of Clean Reauthorization Bill (06/29/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the House of Representatives for rejecting attempts to block enforcement of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. On a vote of 254 to 167, the House voted against an amendment offered by Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) to the appropriations bill for the Justice Department that would have cut off funding for the language-assistance provisions of that historic civil rights law.

Senate Panel Examines President’s Use of "Signing Statements"; ACLU Welcomes Probe into Administration’s Abuse of Power (06/27/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s examination of President Bush’s use of presidential "signing statements," noting that such statements are a tool the president uses to subvert his duty to uphold U.S. law. Since taking office, President Bush has issued such signing statements affecting more than 750 laws, often claiming a supposed right to not enforce laws passed by Congress that he thinks limit his asserted unlimited powers.

ACLU Challenges Lawmakers Who Aim to Gut Voting Rights Act, Says Proposals Would Eliminate Historic Federal Protections (06/23/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly condemned a proposal by several Republican members of Congress to "modernize" the Voting Rights Act, noting that the move would actually gut a key enforcement provision of the historic civil rights law. The amendment was to be offered to H.R. 9, "The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006," that was introduced with strong bipartisan support on May 2.

Supreme Court Limits Lawsuits By Prisoners Challenging Cruel and Inhumane Treatment; (06/23/2006)
WASHINGTON -- In light of a Supreme Court decision giving a broad interpretation to a Gingrich-era law restricting prisoners’ ability to vindicate their right to be free of torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment, the American Civil Liberties Union today called on Congress to amend the law.

ACLU Urges House to Act on Voting Rights Act Reauthorization (06/21/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment that the House Republican leadership cancelled a scheduled vote on legislation to renew and restore the Voting Rights Act. The House was expected to consider the bipartisan and bicameral, "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006" (H.R. 9) today. That bill would renew three key provisions of the act that are set to expire in 2007.

House Judiciary Committee Adopts Request for Illegal NSA Spying Documents; ACLU Welcomes Unexpected Move, Calls for Thorough Congressional Oversight (06/21/2006)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the House Judiciary Committee as that panel unexpectedly adopted a "resolution of inquiry" to formally seek any and all documents held by the president and attorney general relating to warrantless requests made by the National Security Agency and other Federal agencies to telephone service providers regarding the records of their customers’ calls.

ACLU Urges House to Pass Clean Reauthorization of Voting Rights Act (06/20/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union urged the House to pass legislation to renew and restore the Voting Rights Act and to oppose amendments that would weaken the law. Tomorrow, the House is expected to consider the bipartisan and bicameral measure, "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006" (H.R. 9). The act renews three key provisions that are set to expire in 2007. The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation, in a near-unanimous vote last month.

ACLU Urges House to Rein In Illegal NSA Spying Program, Bipartisan Proposal Would Require Administration Respect the Rule of Law (06/20/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House of Representatives to support a bipartisan amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2007 that would cut off funding for warrantless wiretapping conducted by the National Security Agency. The measure is sponsored by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

ACLU Urges Congress to Fix - Or Scrap - Flawed Immigration Bill (06/19/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS) provisions that were included in the immigration reform legislation being considered by Congress. A final agreement, or conference report, on that legislation is still pending, as neither chamber has appointed conferees to reconcile the House and Senate bills.

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Flag Amendment, ACLU Urges Full Senate to Reject Limits on First Amendment Rights (06/15/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment as the Senate Judiciary Committee approved an election-year proposal to include censorship in the Constitution. The full Senate is now expected to consider S.J. Res. 12, the "Flag Desecration Amendment," the week of June 26.

ACLU to House: Don't Block Constituent Email (06/13/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced a move by the House Chief Administrative Officer to use so-called "logic puzzles" to limit the ability of constituents to e-mail their Representatives. According to the Washington Post and Roll Call, the House Administration Committee found that on one day alone, of 8,262 visits to Web sites for citizens to contact members, only 1,568 messages were actually sent.

House Judiciary Panel Seeks to Bar Federal Courts from Hearing Pledge Cases; ACLU Urges Lawmakers to Keep Doors of Justice Open to All (06/07/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the House Judiciary Committee met to consider a controversial measure to deny access to the courts on certain first amendment issues, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged lawmakers to reject this deeply misguided and unconstitutional proposal. The bill, H.R. 2389, or the "Pledge Protection Act of 2005," would strip jurisdiction from all federal courts, including the Supreme Court, in any First Amendment case involving the Pledge of Allegiance. It is the latest of several similar politically motivated measures that would interfere with our independent judiciary and that would jeopardize American’s access to fair and impartial courts.

ACLU Rebukes President Bush’s Support for Federal Marriage Amendment, Says Proposal Would Write Discrimination Into the Constitution (06/05/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly condemned President Bush for publicly supporting a proposal to amend the Constitution to deny marriage protections to gay and lesbian couples and their children. Both houses of Congress overwhelmingly rejected a similar Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004, and the Senate is expected to consider the proposal on Wednesday.

ACLU Urges Senate to Oppose Flawed Immigration Bill, Says Legislation Fails to Protect Due Process and Privacy (05/25/2006)
WASHINGTON - With a vote in the Senate on immigration reform pending, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to oppose the flawed legislation that fails to protect privacy and due process rights.

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Discriminatory Constitutional Amendment, ACLU Denounces Amending the Constitution Behind Closed Doors (05/18/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment as the Senate Judiciary Committee, meeting in a tiny room behind the Senate floor, approved a measure to amend the Constitution to deny marriage protections to gay and lesbian couples and their children. Both houses of Congress overwhelmingly rejected an identical proposal in 2004.

ACLU Urges Congress to Protect Access to Safe, Effective Abortion Pill, Says Lawmakers Must Put Science Before Politics (05/17/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged Congress to put science before politics as the House Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources held hearings on the government’s approval of the early-option abortion pill, also known as RU-486.

ACLU Urges Congress to Reject Attempts to Legitimize Illegal NSA Activities, Welcomes Harman-Conyers Bill to Restore the Rule of Law (05/17/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today renewed its call on lawmakers to reject any attempts to legitimize the warrantless wiretapping operation by the National Security Agency and insist on a full and through investigation into the program. The organization also welcomed a bill co-authored by Representatives Jane Harman (D-CA), ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and John Conyers (D-MI), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, that would reinforce existing law requiring checks and balances on surveillance of Americans in this country.

White House Belatedly Recognizes Congress’s Right to Oversee NSA; ACLU Says Real Checks and Balances Must Follow (05/17/2006)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged lawmakers not to be appeased by the White House's decision on Tuesday to finally provide both the House and Senate intelligence committees, as required by law, with classified briefings on the warrantless wiretapping and data-mining of Americans conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA), saying the move was only a first step toward restoring meaningful checks and balances.

ACLU Says Specter’s NSA Legislation Would Pardon President’s Illegal Actions; Group Calls for Inspector General Investigation (05/16/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly condemned a new proposal drafted by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) that embraces the president’s claims of inherent power to secretly wiretap Americans without meaningful checks. Also today, the organization renewed its request to the Justice Department’s Inspector General to open an investigation into the involvement of the department in the warrantless spying on Americans by the National Security Agency.

ACLU Calls on President Not to Deploy Military Troops to Deter Immigrants at the Mexican Border (05/15/2006)
WASHINGTON - In anticipation of President Bush’s address to the nation tonight on immigration reform, the American Civil Liberties Union today called upon the president and Congress to reject any measures that fail to uphold the letter and spirit of our laws and encouraged lawmakers to adopt immigration reform that protects the freedom and privacy of all in America.

Hayden Nomination Raises Serious Civil Liberties Concerns (05/08/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Following the announcement that President Bush will nominate General Michael V. Hayden to be the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the American Civil Liberties Union urged the Senate to vigorously question the nominee on his involvement with the warrantless program to spy on Americans. Hayden was the director of the National Security Agency when this illegal program was launched in 2001 and has been one the chief defenders of these actions in violation of the Fourth Amendment and the Foriegn Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Senate Panel Passes Measure to Include Censorship in Constitution, ACLU Urges Full Senate to Oppose as First Amendment Hangs in Balance (05/04/2006)
WASHINGTON - Noting that free expression and the right to dissent are among the core principles which the American flag represents, the American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment that a key Senate panel failed to protect the Constitution when it passed the Flag Desecration Amendment. The House passed the Flag Desecration Amendment by a narrow eight-vote margin last year.

ACLU Leaders Meet with White House Privacy and Civil Liberties Board, Call for Board to Exercise Strong, Independent Role (04/27/2006)
WASHINGTON - Key leaders from the American Civil Liberties Union today met with the White House Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board in order to encourage that panel to conduct aggressive investigation and oversight over several matters of pivotal importance to the civil liberties of all Americans.

Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Consideration of NSA Spying Bills; Move Follows House Failure to Rein in Warrantless Eavesdropping Program (04/27/2006)
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today delayed consideration of several bills concerning the warrantless domestic surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed that step and continued to urge members of that panel to reject attempts to legislate on the issue without a full investigation into the illegal program.

ACLU Urges Senate Panel to Reject NSA Spying Bills, Says Congress Must Fully Investigate Before Taking Action (04/26/2006)
WASHINGTON - In anticipation of Thursday's expected mark-up by the Senate Judiciary Committee of various bills concerning the warrantless domestic surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged members of that panel to reject attempts to legislate on that issue without a full investigation into the illegal program.

ACLU Welcomes Introduction of the Federal "Freedom of Choice Act," Says Legislation Needed to Protect Women’s Health and Rights (04/07/2006)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the introduction of the "Freedom of Choice Act," federal legislation aimed at ensuring that the government does not stand in the way of women getting the reproductive health care they need. The bill calls upon Congress to protect the right to privacy and a woman’s ability to have a child or to end a pregnancy.

As Senate Immigration Bill Stalls, ACLU Calls for Much-Needed Fixes, Says Lawmakers Must Act to Protect Due Process and Privacy (04/07/2006)
WASHINGTON - As legislation to reform the nation’s immigration laws stalled in the Senate today, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to modify that legislation to better protect privacy, judicial review and due process rights.

Attorney General Must Stop Stonewalling Congress on NSA Spying, ACLU Says; Lawmakers and the Public Deserve Disclosure on Warrantless Program (04/06/2006)
WASHINGTON - As Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Bush administration to stop stonewalling efforts by lawmakers to fully investigate the warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency, as authorized by President Bush.

TSA Search Policies Need to Provide Security, Protect Privacy, ACLU Says; Calls on Congress to Adopt Least Intrusive, Most Effective Measures (04/04/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to direct the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to adopt policies regarding the physical screening of cargo and passengers that both provide security and protect privacy. Lawmakers were also urged to eliminate support for ineffective airline passenger screening programs such as Secure Flight and Registered Traveler in favor of more effective security measures.

ACLU Says Immigration Bills Must Protect Due Process and Privacy, Urges Lawmakers to Fix Shortcomings in Pending Legislation (04/03/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Judiciary Committee met today to examine immigration, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to reject two proposals that would deprive immigrants of their right to appeal and overburden the judicial system. The Judiciary Committee recently passed an immigration bill that does not include these two objectionable provisions, but lawmakers may yet seek to include them in the final measure.