Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

RE: Prevent U.S. participation in torture by supporting HR 952

Dear Representative ,

I urge you to cosponsor HR 952, the "Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act." This very important bill would ban the practice of "extraordinary rendition"--sending detainees for interrogation to a third country known for its torture practices .

Torture has been abhorrent to our national values since the days of the Framers of the Constitution. Patrick Henry himself stated that torture was left behind in the Old World for good cause, and if permitted here we are "lost and undone."

Sending persons to a third country where they will face torture is also illegal. It violates the Convention Against Torture, and it also violates U.S. criminal law, including the War Crimes Act and the anti-torture statute. Americans must not tolerate any U.S. practices which will cause a person to be subjected to torture.

The policy of "torture by proxy" is abhorrent and must be rejected. This practice does not protect us--it endangers us by fomenting hatred against Americans abroad, especially our servicemen and women. Please stand up for American values and security by cosponsoring HR 952 and working hard to ensure its passage.