[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3199, USA PATRIOT IMPROVEMENT AND 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to explain my vote 
against a democrat motion to instruct conferees on December 14, 2005.
  Although President Bush and Secretary Rice have made it clear that 
under no circumstance will the United States use torture, I am also 
sympathetic to Senator McCain's wish to establish a clear set of rules 
to govern interrogations of persons under the detention of the 
Department of Defense. With this said, I don't believe it is beneficial 
to instruct conferees on an issue that is already under negotiations 
between the White House, Senator McCain and the United States House of 
Representatives. These negotiations could yield a much more favorable 
outcome than what Senator McCain originally requested and it also 
undermines the legislative process. However, if no compromise is agreed 
to, I would support the McCain language as our policy toward torture.

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