PHR Action Center

Please help restore core American values by writing to your Senators and Representatives today and urging them to co-sponsor and vote for the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007.

Congress and the Bush Administration dealt a destructive blow to human rights with the passage of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (MCA). The MCA eliminates the right of habeas corpus (the right to judicial review) for detainees in US custody, allows Military Commissions to consider evidence obtained through coercive interrogation methods and generally weakens the protection of the Geneva Conventions.

With the introduction of the Restoring the Constitution Act by Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Jane Harman (D-CA), we can restore habeas corpus and ban the use of coerced evidence by the Military Commissions. Contact your members of Congress today and ask them to end some of the worst abuses of detainees in US custody.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As one of your constituents, I strongly urge you to co-sponsor the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, if you have not already done so, and to support its passage when it comes to a vote. The Act was introduced by Senators Christopher Dodd and Patrick Leahy and by Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Jane Harman.

I am extremely disappointed in the many ways the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (MCA) undermines our nation's historical leadership and deep commitment to justice and human rights. The MCA allows the commissions to use evidence extracted from coercive interrogations and to deny detainees in US custody the basic right of habeas corpus.

The Restoring the Constitution Act would repair some of the worst damage the MCA has done to our core American values by preventing torture and promoting more humane treatment of all detainees in our custody. Key provisions would:

* Ban the use of coerced evidence in the Military Commissions and restore a vital, traditional safeguard against harsh and harmful interrogation practices. * Outlaw cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment by making such abuse a discrete and punishable war crime. * Restore to detainees the right of habeas corpus, the historical and fundamental right to seek judicial relief from unlawful or illegitimate imprisonment.

These and other measures in the Restoring the Constitution Act would "fix" some of the most damaging provisions of the MCA. I urge you to give it your full support as a co-sponsor.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 11, 2007