The Homeland Security Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2004, sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) has passed the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee:

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), today unanimously approved her bipartisan legislation (S. 2536) to further protect the civil rights and civil liberties of Americans. The Homeland Security Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2004, sponsored with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), would ensure that officials within the Department of Homeland Security have the ability to balance public safety with the civil right and liberties that are so important to Americans.

The best features of the bill:

The bill creates a new position within the office of the Inspector General whose responsibility would be to oversee civil rights and civil liberties cases that are referred to this office. The bill also would amend the Department of Homeland Security’s mission statement to include the protection of civil liberties and civil rights as priority for the Department and its activities.

Kudos to Senators Collins and Wyden.