FISA (The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) is scheduled for a Senate reauthorization vote this week. Before voting on the bill to reauthorize FISA, the Senate will consider three amendments. Even if amended, this bill weakens constitutional protections against unlawful government action and threatens the fundamental understanding of the separation of powers mandated in the constitution.

On June 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a compromise FISA bill that would allow the government to monitor e-mail messages and phone calls without a warrant, and would provide telecommunications companies immunity for providing the government with personal information for the purpose of wiretapping. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the FISA reauthorization proposal this week.

FISA was passed in 1978 in response to surveillance abuses in the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon Administrations. It affirms that the fourth Amendment safeguarding citizens' freedom from surveillance extends to "electronic surveillance" and prohibits wiretapping without a warrant. The current Administration has challenged this position, conducting warrantless wiretaps on citizens, and offering immunity from prosecution for collaborating telecommunications companies in the process. Legislation passed by the House and currently before the Senate would legalize much of the wiretapping activity of the past seven years.

Please take action today by urging your Senator and Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, to oppose warrantless wiretapping and telecom immunity.