TO: ACLU Action Network Members
FR: Angela Colaiuta, National Field Organizer
DT: 10-01-02

Over the past few months, Congress has been diligently working to come to an agreement and make President Bush's proposal for the new Homeland Security Department a reality. Both the House and Senate have made substantial improvements to the President's original plan, which lacked some of the most essential checks and balances necessary to ensure that this vast new department respects civil liberties.

Unfortunately, these advances are being threatened by an alternative proposal introduced by Senators Phil Gramm (R-TX) and Zell Miller (D-GA) as an amendment to H.R. 5005, the "Homeland Security Act." The Gramm/Miller bill includes no means by which to investigate or remedy departmental wrongdoing. This dangerous legislation abandons civil rights oversight and would create an agency essentially accountable to no one.

Take Action! You can learn more about the Gramm/Miller alternative and send a FREE FAX to your Senators from our action alert at: http://www.aclu.org/action/homeland107.html

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