Jane Harman's Message to Progressives -- February 23, 2006
I've just filed my re-election papers and want you to know how much I appreciate your strong and continued support. We have a real opportunity this year to take back the House and Senate, and I'm working hard to elect Democrats in winnable seats.
Here are some of my priorities:
- An exit strategy from Iraq. Despite colossal post-war planning failures, we have a moral obligation to leave the country in better shape than we found it, with a stable government and adequately trained security forces. A good start would be by taking a firm stand against permanent military bases and for patriots like Congressman Jack Murtha and the McCain amendment banning torture.
- End dependence on Middle East oil. Our foreign policy and environmental future are hostage to oil. Clean California technologies are an economic driver and the answer to both threats.
- Force the administration to obey the law and bring the NSA program targeting Al Qaeda communications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The 4th Amendment standard of "probable cause" must apply in all cases.
- Limit the use of National Security Letters. NSLs are secret subpoenas for personal records from Internet service providers, universities, doctor's offices and financial institutions. A bill I've introduced would require the FBI to get prior court approval for NSLs and beef up reporting to Congress.
- Protect the right to choose. Throughout my lifetime I have defended reproductive rights. The changed composition of the Supreme Court presents grave challenges and so it is critical to prevent further erosion in Congress.
- Defeat the gay marriage amendment. House Republicans are expected to haul out their deliberately divisive constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Efforts to make gay marriage a federal issue are hypocritical and constitute government-sanctioned discrimination.
I'm eager to hear from you as we work for victory for Democrats throughout the country in November.
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