[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 155 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2136-E2137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       STATEMENT INTRODUCING AMERICAN FREEDOM AGENDA ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 15, 2007

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a comprehensive piece 
of legislation to restore the American Constitution and to restore the 
liberties that have been sadly eroded over the past several years.
  This legislation seeks to restore the checks and balances enshrined 
in the Constitution by our Founding Fathers to prevent abuse of 
Americans by their government. This proposed legislation would repeal 
the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and re-establish the traditional 
practice that military commissions may be used to try war crimes in 
places of active hostility where a rapid trial is necessary to preserve 
evidence or prevent chaos.
  The legislation clarifies that no information shall be admitted as 
evidence if it is obtained from the defendant through the use of 
torture or coercion. It codifies the FISA process as the means by which 
foreign intelligence may be obtained and it gives members of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives standing in court to challenge 
presidential signing statements that declares the president's intent to 
disregard certain aspects of a law passed in the U.S. Congress. It 
prohibits kidnapping and extraordinary rendition of prisoners to 
foreign countries on the president's unilateral determination that the 
suspect is an enemy combatant. It defends the first amendment by 
clarifying that journalists are not to be prevented from publishing 
information received from the

[[Page E2137]]

legislative or executive branch unless such publication would cause 
immediate, direct, and irreparable harm to the United States.
  Finally, the legislation would prohibit the use of secret evidence to 
designate an individual or organization with a United States presence 
to be a foreign terrorist or foreign terrorist organization.
  I invite my colleagues to join my efforts to restore the U.S. 
Constitution by enacting the American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007.

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