At 11:30 a.m. Tuesday (tomorrow) 135,000 petitions will be delivered to to all 100 U.S. senators urging them to enact safeguards to protect the innocent from wrongful conviction and execution. The petitions urge the senators to pass the Innocence Protection Act.

The legislation, which has strong bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate, ensures those facing a potential death sentence get a qualified lawyer, and that those convicted of a crime have access to DNA testing. The bill was recently approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the counterpart House bill is now cosponsored by 243 members of Congress ---- more than half the membership of the House.

One of the Innocence Protection Act's Senate sponsors, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) will be joined by death row exoneree Kirk Bloodsworth and other members of Congress at a press conference to present the petitions.

The delivery will take place at the new Senate "Swamp" Site at Russell Park, Constitution and Delaware, across from the Capitol (near Russell Senate Office Building).

Present will be Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt), Senator Susan Collins (R-Me), Representative Ray LaHood (R-Il) and Kirk Bloodsworth, the first person freed from death row as a result of DNA testing.