Citing the concerns of human rights advocates, Senator Dianne Feinstein sent the following letter to Senator Arlen Spector, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Dear Chairman Specter,

I write to respectfully request that you not proceed with at this time with legislation entitled The Alien Tort Statute Reform Act, S. 1874, and ask that you not schedule this matter for a hearing until I am able to clarify certain provisions.

The legislation in question is designed to address concerns about the clarity of the existing Alien Tort Claim statute in light of the recent Supreme Court decision Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, 542 U.S. 692 (2004).  However, I believe that the legislation in its present form calls for refinement in light of concerns raised by human rights advocates, and thus a hearing or other action by the Committee on this bill would be premature.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Yours truly,
Dianne Feinstein
U.S. Senator