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Changing our government's direction often happens slowly, step by painstaking step. That knowledge makes a week like this one even more exciting, when the results of our work come into focus and change happens.

Acknowledging torture. The Senate Intelligence Committee's Torture Report, released this week, is a sobering look at the cost of the "war on terror." We learned not only that the CIA used torture techniques--including water boarding, sleep deprivation and humiliation--more extensively than even lawmakers realized, but that CIA worked around its own safeguards to allow these detentions and interrogations to continue.

Many people argued against the release of this report. FCNL's advocacy in several states was crucial in helping influential members support its release. As FCNL's Executive Secretary Diane Randall observes, it's important for Congress to name our country's wrongdoing so we can take the first step toward healing. And it's equally important that we continue to move forward to keep these mistakes from happening again.

Taking steps to end the "war on terror": Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to support rolling back the law behind more than a decade of war. Under this proposal, the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, which gives the president open-ended authority to act against those who might threaten the U.S., would sunset in three years. This proposal still has a ways to go to become law, but the vote is a first step to limit the president's blank check for endless war.

Tracking deaths in custody: What happens when police officers take someone into custody? Since 2006, it's been impossible to track even basic information about how people are treated. Crucial legislation--now on its way to President Obama's desk--requires states to collect the information that can help prevent deaths while in detention. FCNL worked with people in key states to move this legislation through the Senate this week.

Addressing police militarization. For more than a year, FCNL has insisted that the Pentagon program that provides free military equipment to local police departments is an important part of the problem of police militarization. In his address earlier this month, President Obama announced the conclusion of a federal review of the 1033 program. There are many things still missing from this proposal--making it all the more important that we keep encouraging Congress to curtail this program and address other aspects of police militarization.

Thank you for being part of this work to advance peace and justice. You make this progress possible.

Sincerely,

Alicia McBride
Communications Director