Portal:Rights, Liberties and Courts Policy (U.S.)/In the news


 * The heads of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking member Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), expressed reluctance in granting immunity to telcommuncations companies involved in the warrantless surveillance program after getting access to requested documents.


 * The White House told Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking member Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) that they could see relevant documents before considering the plan to overhaul FISA


 * The Senate Intelligence Committee approved a biapartisan bill governing foreign intelligence surveillance that granted retroactive immunity to telecom companies that participated in warrantless wiretapping, meant to replace the August-passed Protect America Act of 2007.


 * Rep. Steny Hoyer introduced the RESTORE Act to amend FISA on Oct. 9, 2007 as a replacement for the August-passed Protect America Act (PAA).


 * After House and Senate Democrats reluctantly allowed the FISA bill to pass, President Bush signed it into law on Aug. 5, extending the powers of the warrantless surveillance program.


 * In its continuing investigation of the warrantless surveillance program, the Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the White House, the Justice Department, and Vice President Dick Cheney for copies of internal documents about the program's legality and agreements with telecommunications companies that participated in the program on Jun. 28.


 * 145 lawmakers signed a letter to President Bush urging him to close the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay on Jun. 28.


 * The White House asserted executive privilege in late Jun. in response to the subpoena relating to  the U.S. attorney firings controversy and will not supply the requested documents.


 * House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) urged the State Department to hire homosexual military translators discharged under the military's “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on Jun. 25.


 * The House passed a gun control bill, the NICS Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R.297), on Jun. 13 to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by improving state reporting to the FBI's national database.


 * The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a meeting to authorize subpoenas as a part of its investigation of the NSA warrentless surveillance program on Jun. 12. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), unable to get the records of legal opinions detailing Bush administration's support for the program, led a call to subpoena Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for the information.


 * The Senate Judiciary Committee reported favorably the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 {S.185) which would restore the right to judicial review for Guantanamo Bay detainees, on Jun. 7.


 * The House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) to increase hate crime protections and prosecutions on May 3 by a vote of 237-180.


 * The House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) to prohibit the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros on Apr. 26.


 * The House passed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 (H.R.985) which was sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and would expand federal protection for people who go public with information of suspected wrongdoing, on Mar. 14.
 * Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 (H.R.1022) which would reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, On Feb. 13.


 * Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced the Anti-Gun Trafficking Penalties Enhancement Act of 2007 (S.77) on Jan. 4 to improve the tracking of stolen firearms used in a crime, allow more federal inspections to ensure compliance with gun laws, and increase penalties for gun trafficking.


 * Rep. Michael Castle (R-Del.) introduced the Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2007 (H.R.96) in Jan. The legislation would require additional background checks regarding firearms purchases at gun shows.


 * President Bush signed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (S. 3880), sponsored by Senators James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), which gave the Department of Justice additional authority to apprehend and prosecute individuals who commit animal enterprise terror, on Nov. 27, 2006.


 * President Bush signed a bill limiting internet gambling by prohibiting the transfer of funds from financial institutions to internet gaming sites on Oct. 13, 2006.


 * The Senate fell one vote short of passing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning flag burning in Jun., 2006.