Speaks on Senate floor late into evening to protect American civil liberties, stand up for our Constitutional rights
February 12, 2008 Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) last night once again demonstrated his commitment to fighting against certain provisions in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act that fly in the face of the Constitution and the rule of law by speaking at length on the Senate floor, keeping the Senate in session late into the night. In a final plea after a months-long battle, Dodd urged his colleagues to oppose granting retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that may have participated in the Administration's warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. Should his amendment fail, Dodd pressed his colleagues not to end debate on the bill, effectively preventing it from a vote and final passage. Last week, Dodd offered an amendment that he co-sponsored with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) to strip the egregious retroactive immunity provisions from FISA. This amendment, expected to be voted on today, would ensure that courts have the ability to fulfill their constitutional duty to determine whether or not these companies should be held accountable for their actions.