Tag: senators

Restore the Fourth signs onto Coalition Letter to Amend the Indefinite Detention Clause of the NDAA

Restore the Fourth, along with P.A.N.D.A., Free the People and several other co-signing organizations, submitted a coalition letter to Senator Lindsay Graham. It urges that an amendment to the NDAA drafted by Sens. Paul and Lee be allowed to be debated. The amendment would remove the indefinite detention clause in this year’s NDAA, which is otherwise an annual bill authorizing the military’s budget.

The power of the executive to indefinitely detain anyone deemed a threat to national security was first added to the NDAA in 2011. This clause allows the President to detain anyone they choose without charge or due process.

Congress will vote on cloture on the NDAA amendment today, determining whether the Paul/Lee amendment will even get to be considered.

BLOCK S.139 IN THE SENATE!

Let your senator know that nothing less than real NSA surveillance reform will do.

Perhaps you’ve been following the continuing debate in Congress on NSA surveillance, and the expiration of Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act that makes the dragnet possible. If so, then you likely heard that Thursday the House voted down Rep. Amash’s amendment, the USA RIGHTS Act, that would have given us real mass surveillance reform. You may also know that they approved a bill, S.139, which extends Section 702 for 6 more years.

Here’s how your representatives voted on:

We still have a chance for meaningful surveillance reform this coming Tuesday when the Senate takes up S. 139. We need 41 senators to come to the aid of the Constitution by voting no on cloture for S. 139. 27 Senators voted yesterday against the Senate considering S. 139 at all, so we only need 14 more.

If S. 139 were to pass, that would not only mean six more years of the NSA spying on American citizens, but also an expansion of ‘about collection’ abilities by law enforcement.

A no vote for cloture on S. 139 will stop it from even being considered, and open the door to considering real reform. We’re urging everyone to contact their senator’s office – but especially if you are a constituent of one of the pivotal senators below.

Find Your Senator