Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), telecommunications companies turned over the records of millions of American citizens. These records were released with no warrants and no judicial oversight.  Only President Bush, his closest advisors and the telecommunications companies know the extent of this warrant less surveillance.

Now, the Bush Administration and some members of Congress are pushing a new FISA bill that would provide legal amnesty for those companies that turned over records. This amnesty for telecom companies would shield them from any legal accountability for these actions.

Congress must stand up and protect the rights of American citizens.  They must restore the balance of power by returning oversight to the judiciary. The courts, not Congress, should decide what is legal.

We call upon Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Gordon Smith to stand in support of Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut and his filibuster of this amnesty.  Senators Wyden and Smith should help Senator Dodd protect the Fourth Amendment and ensure that surveillance of Americans is no longer conducted without oversight.