Patriot Act - Sample Letter

Dear Senator __________ or Representative ______________:

Holding people without trial, denying the right to counsel, unfettered government eavesdropping, and hiding evidence – these are not the American way. We need your help to protect against these inroads on our constitutional rights. Attorney General Ashcroft’s campaign to broaden the Patriot Act and make it permanent would further erode our right to counsel, our right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure, and the government’s obligation to provide a prompt and speedy trial with the right of every accused to confront the evidence against him. Several Senators and Representatives of both parties have submitted proposals to tighten oversight of the powers given to the Administration in the wake of 9-11.

The American Bar Association has urged Congress to conduct regular and timely oversight of the Patriot Act/FISA and to ensure that government investigations do not violate constitutional requirements. But the Congress has taken no action. The Judiciary Committee should hold hearings to publicize the facts as to how the Patriot Act/FISA have been utilized in the past three years. The Judiciary Committee should follow up by reporting out suitable measures to prevent abuses and to assure our security under the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution.

We urge you to provide strong leadership on these key issues at once.

Yours truly,

(Name)
(Address)
(E-mail)