January, 13 2009, 08:52am EDT
ACLU Announces Agenda For 111th Congress
Renewing Checks And Balances Tops Group’s Priorities
WASHINGTON
Top
leaders of the American Civil Liberties Union today called on the
newly-installed 111th Congress to defend the fundamental freedoms of
all Americans. In a letter sent to every member of Congress, the ACLU outlined
its legislative agenda.
"The gaveling of
the 111th Congress is an opportunity to renew America's founding
principles," said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. "For years,
our country has slid farther and farther away from its ideals - but the damage
is not irreparable. Now is the time to turn back the clock on eight years of
shameful policies and again become an America we can all be proud
of."
the 111th Congress is an opportunity to renew America's founding
principles," said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. "For years,
our country has slid farther and farther away from its ideals - but the damage
is not irreparable. Now is the time to turn back the clock on eight years of
shameful policies and again become an America we can all be proud
of."
The ACLU will be
encouraging the new Congress to repair the damage done to the Constitution
by:
encouraging the new Congress to repair the damage done to the Constitution
by:
*
Restoring appropriate limits on
governmental power;
Restoring appropriate limits on
governmental power;
*
Reestablishing and advancing each
individual's right to live free of discrimination; and
Reestablishing and advancing each
individual's right to live free of discrimination; and
*
Setting meaningful standards to
reestablish and preserve the right to speak freely and openly.
Setting meaningful standards to
reestablish and preserve the right to speak freely and openly.
Specifically, the
organization is urging the repeal of, among other laws, the Military Commissions
Act, the FISA Amendments Act and the REAL ID Act. The ACLU is also asking for
greater privacy standards concerning government databases, a meaningful federal
reporters' shield law and reform of both juvenile justice and drug sentencing
laws.
organization is urging the repeal of, among other laws, the Military Commissions
Act, the FISA Amendments Act and the REAL ID Act. The ACLU is also asking for
greater privacy standards concerning government databases, a meaningful federal
reporters' shield law and reform of both juvenile justice and drug sentencing
laws.
"Our system of
checks and balances is broken," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU
Washington Legislative Office. "There must be a full and thorough investigation
into the abuses of the past eight years by both Congress and an individual
special prosecutor. By urging Congress to hold itself and the executive
accountable, we reaffirm that no one is above the law. Americans have made their
voices heard and are crying out for change. It's time for Congress to
listen."
checks and balances is broken," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU
Washington Legislative Office. "There must be a full and thorough investigation
into the abuses of the past eight years by both Congress and an individual
special prosecutor. By urging Congress to hold itself and the executive
accountable, we reaffirm that no one is above the law. Americans have made their
voices heard and are crying out for change. It's time for Congress to
listen."
The
ACLU's legislative priorities for the 111th Congress are posted here:
ACLU's legislative priorities for the 111th Congress are posted here:
To read
the ACLU's recommendations to the executive transition team, go
to:
the ACLU's recommendations to the executive transition team, go
to:
The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
(212) 549-2666LATEST NEWS
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Dec 13, 2024
Public health advocates, federal lawmakers, and other critics responded with alarm to The New York Timesreporting on Friday that an attorney helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. select officials for the next Trump administration tried to get the U.S. regulators to revoke approval of the polio vaccine in 2022.
"The United States has been a leader in the global fight to eradicate polio, which is poised to become only the second disease in history to be eliminated from the face of the earth after smallpox," said Liza Barrie, Public Citizen's campaign director for global vaccines access. "Undermining polio vaccination efforts now risks reversing decades of progress and unraveling one of the greatest public health achievements of all time."
Public Citizen is among various organizations that have criticized President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, with the watchdog's co-president, Robert Weissman, saying that "he shouldn't be allowed in the building... let alone be placed in charge of the nation's public health agency."
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According to the newspaper:
Mr. Siri is also representing ICAN in petitioning the FDA to "pause distribution" of 13 other vaccines, including combination products that cover tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and hepatitis A, until their makers disclose details about aluminum, an ingredient researchers have associated with a small increase in asthma cases.
Mr. Siri declined to be interviewed, but said all of his petitions were filed on behalf of clients. Katie Miller, a spokeswoman for Mr. Kennedy, said Mr. Siri has been advising Mr. Kennedy but has not discussed his petitions with any of the health nominees. She added, "Mr. Kennedy has long said that he wants transparency in vaccines and to give people choice."
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Ayman Chit, head of vaccines for North America at Sanofi, told the newspaper that development of the vaccine began in 1977, over 280 million people worldwide have received it, and there have been more than 300 studies, some with up to six months of follow-up.
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Asked about RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine record during a Time "Person of the Year" interview published Thursday, the president-elect said that "we're going to be able to do very serious testing" and certain vaccines could be made unavailable "if I think it's dangerous."
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Both comments generated concern—like the Friday reporting in the Times, which University of Alabama law professor and MSNBC columnist Joyce White Vance called "absolutely terrifying."
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Multiple critics altered Trump's campaign slogan to "Make Polio Great Again."
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Without naming anyone, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a polio survivor, put out a lengthy statement on Friday.
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Sandy Fonzo, whose son killed himself after being sentenced to juvenile detention, said in a statement: "I am shocked and I am hurt. Conahan's actions destroyed families, including mine, and my son's death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of his abuse of power."
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