Dear Friend:

I am writing to tell you about my support of Senator Christopher Dodd’s Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, S.576. This comprehensive legislation would restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States, ban evidence gained through torture, and reaffirm America’s commitment to the Geneva Conventions.

The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized habeas corpus as “the fundamental instrument for safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary and lawless state action.” The principle of habeas corpus mandates that a person held in prison can petition a court to determine whether the imprisonment is lawful. This 900-year-old legal standard was effectively violated by the Bush Administration’s Military Commissions Act of 2006.

Reaffirming our commitment to the principles that were erased by the Military Commissions Act is extremely important. I believe that Congress must act to help repair the damage that has been caused by the Bush Administration’s harmful and misguided policies. I am proud to cosponsor and support the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007 and will work for its passage and for tough anti-terrorist legislation that is consistent with American military doctrine and our nation’s guiding principles of fairness and justice.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator