(RTTNews) -
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Ver., revealed Tuesday that he sent a letter to President Barack Obama on Monday, urging him to make nominations to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.
"Having a fully functional Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is a key step in protecting the privacy and civil liberties of all Americans," Leahy wrote in his letter.
He added, "Given the many pressing privacy and civil liberties issues facing our nation, including timely issues related to counterterrorism and cybersecurity policies, this vital board has remained vacant for far too long."
The lawmaker called the board "an integral component of our counterterrorism policies established by Congress to ensure that privacy and civil liberties concerns are appropriately considered in developing and implementing these measures."
Leahy first wrote to Obama about reconstituting the Board in April 2009. The terms of its first members lapsed in January 2008, and the Bush administration delayed in announcing new nominations to the Board.
Established in 2005, the board is charged with ensuring that privacy and civil liberties concerns are considered in the development of national security and counterterrorism policies.
by RTT Staff Writer
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