Join the ACLU

House Republicans walk out of FISA debate.

Take Action: House must stop unconstitutional Senate FISA bill.

The Senate has capitulated to President Bush by passing a dangerous and unconstitutional FISA bill that allows warrantless government eavesdropping on Americans and grants immunity to giant phone companies that handed consumer data over to the government without a warrant.

"Though many questions still remain unanswered about years of domestic spying, the Senate has effectively sealed the vault by handing over immunity to the phone companies," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the Washington Legislative Office. "The over forty legitimate lawsuits currently pending against them may end before they've begun. It's a fact that Americans had their rights violated and now, by closing the courtroom door, they may be left with no recourse."

Stopping the awful Senate bill -- which the House can do -- is vital to protecting your constitutional right to make a phone call, send an email or search the Internet without the government monitoring your activity.

The administration played the fear card and, this time, their bluff was called. Finally, the House of Representatives -- led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer -- refused to yield.

It happened on a critical showdown over FISA legislation. Refusing all reasonable courses of action, the Bush White House essentially said give us what we want, including immunity for telecom companies that cooperated with the administration's illegal efforts, or we will accuse you of being soft on terrorism.

And House leaders refused to bend, letting the ill-named Protect America Act expire rather than cave in to the fear-mongering. They've taken a strong stand. And now, we need to urge them to hold firm.

"The President does not operate outside the law." - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the FISA stand-off.

"The President's comments are wrong, divisive and nothing more than fear-mongering." - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in a statement about FISA.

"We are a strong nation. We cannot allow ourselves to be scared into suspending the Constitution." - Rep. Silvestre Reyes in a letter to President Bush.

The Bush administration is going all out now -- doing everything it can to bully Congress into caving in the face of a massive fear-mongering onslaught. We've got to push back with an all-out "Facts Over Fear" campaign.

Send a "Keep Standing Up To The Fear-Mongering" Petition to House leaders.

Get more information on FISA here.