[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2006

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on this legislation to 
establish military tribunals for terrorist suspects.
  This legislation was made necessary by a U.S. Supreme Court decision 
in June in the case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, in which the court ruled 
that the military commissions created by the Bush administration 
violated both U.S. and international law. This important legislation is 
necessary to create a lawful framework in order to bring to trial such 
terrorist suspects as Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of 
the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on America. Without passage of this 
legislation, the United States will have no legal means to bring to 
justice those who have participated in the most heinous acts of 
terrorism against our country.
  I agree with my Democratic colleagues who rightfully argued we should 
have been allowed to consider substantive changes to the bill such as 
those contained in the Skelton motion to recommit, which I voted for. 
The Skelton language would have provided for expedited consideration of 
the statute's constitutionality and required the statute to be renewed 
in three years, but unfortunately, the Skelton motion failed to pass. 
Although the Republican Majority would not allow consideration of 
proposed Democratic amendments, it is important to note the significant 
and substantive changes that have been made to the bill to correct the 
serious flaws of the original White House proposal.
  Specifically, the bill would replace the White House's denial of 
habeas corpus rights with a process known as combatant status review in 
which detainees may challenge their detention within the confines of 
the military commission system. In addition, the manager's amendment 
assures the prohibition of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, 
codified in the Detainee Treatment Act (Pub. L. 109-163, P.L. 109-148). 
It also clarifies that defendants will be able to examine and respond 
to redacted classified evidence being used against them.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6166 is not a perfect bill, but I will vote for it 
so the United States can move forward with prosecuting terrorist 
suspects in a manner consistent with our values in a fair and just 
system.

                          ____________________