Voting and Civil Rights Domestic Wiretapping: Congresswoman Jackson Lee believes that It should be the policy of the United States that the objective of any authorized program of foreign intelligence surveillance must be to ensure that American citizens and persons in America are secure in their persons, papers, and effects but makes terrorists everywhere else in the world feel insecure. The best way to achieve these twin goals is follow the rule of law. And the exclusive law to follow with respect to authorizing foreign surveillance gathering on U.S. soil is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which can and should be modernized to accommodate new technologies and to make clear that foreign to foreign communications are not subject to the FISA, even though modern technology enables that communication to be routed through the United States. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is indispensable and must play a meaningful role in ensuring compliance with the law and the Congress must have regular access to information about how many U.S. communications are being collected and the authority to require court orders when it becomes clear that a certain program or surveillance of a target is scooping up communications of Americans. Congress should not grant amnesty to any telecommunications company for helping the NSA spy illegally on innocent Americans because the availability of amnesty will have the unintended consequence of encouraging telecommunications companies to comply with, rather than contest, illegal requests to spy on Americans. Finally, authorization to conduct foreign surveillance gathering on U.S. soil must never be made permanent. The threats to America’s security and the liberties of its people will change over time and requires constant vigilance by the people’s representatives in Congress. Federal Hate Crimes Legislation: Voting Rights for District of Columbia Citizens: Congresswoman Jackson Lee believes that taxation without representation is tyranny. As a supporter of freedom, democracy, and equality, she continues to argue that it is long overdue for the citizens of the District of Columbia to have a representative in Congress who can vote on the vital legislation considered in this body. Prosecuting Guantanamo Detainees Before Military Tribunal Commissions: Congresswoman Jackson Lee is working to ensure that the President has the best possible intelligence to prevent future terrorist attacks on the United States and its allies. However, she also understands that justice requires we do in a manner that honors our values not trashes them. Stripping the federal courts of jurisdiction over habeas corpus petitions filed on behalf of detainees at Guantanamo Bay is not consistent with American values. Congresswoman Jackson Lee does not believe that we should redefine the Geneva Convention. We cannot use international law only when it is convenient and expedient. Our commitment to the rule of law, including the writ of habeas corpus gives us the moral high ground. This is true in both a long war against terror and a war for the hearts and minds of people from every religion and every nation. After all, this is not about who they are; this is about who we are. Congresswoman Jackson Lee will continue her fight to restore the availability of habeas corpus. The writ of habeas corpus is too important to our national character to be done away with lightly or at all. In the words of Jonathan Winthrop, often quoted by President Reagan, "for we must consider that we shall be as a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us." |
Voting and Civil Rights