[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 168 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1815, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 
1815, the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.
  Mr. Speaker, torture can never be tolerated. As a country that has 
historically stood for the promotion and strengthening of human rights, 
our government must not be allowed to blur the line, bend the rules or 
otherwise distort the truth on acts that are clearly degrading, 
inhumane and cruel. Senator John McCain's amendment to the Fiscal Year 
2006 Defense Authorization, and subsequently Appropriations, bills, was 
overwhelming supported in the Senate, and had bipartisan support in the 
House. Regardless of who we are fighting, and regardless of how the war 
is going, as Americans, we must never allow ourselves to again be 
accused of torture. Torture destroys the lives of those who are its 
victims as well as the lives, moral authority and strength of those who 
commit such devastating acts or support them.
  As a cosponsor of the Interrogation Procedures Act of 2005, H.R. 
3985, which is identical to Senator McCain's amendment, I am pleased 
that conferees were able to come to a good agreement in regard to 
Senator McCain's amendment. This amendment deserved the utmost support 
and respect, and I believe that in the end, the conferees were able to 
incorporate a clear, unambiguous statement on the unacceptability of 
torture by the U.S. government and military.
  As media reports of alleged torture and extraordinary rendition 
become increasingly common, and as reports continue of ``secret'' CIA 
prisons operated throughout Eastern Europe, I am extremely pleased that 
the Administration has finally, publicly supported the McCain ban on 
torture. I was appalled earlier this month, and in November, to hear of 
Vice President Cheney's lobbying of Members of Congress to have this 
provision stripped, arguing that the provision would restrict the 
``flexibility'' of the intelligence and military communities to wage an 
``effective'' war against terror.
  With this conference report, the United States has made a clear, 
unambiguous, and strong statement condemning torture and outlawing its 
use by any U.S. military personnel or on any U.S. facility in the 
world. This is to be greatly commended and I thank my colleagues for 
their support of this provision.

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