[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 155 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MEJA EXPANSION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2007

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                               speech of

                        HON. JANIS D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 4, 2007

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Virginia has offered a 
motion to recommit H.R. 2740, the MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act, 
to the Judiciary Committee and to modify the legislation with regard to 
intelligence activities. I will support this motion to recommit, but 
wish to clearly state my understanding of the motion.
  The motion to recommit would amend H.R. 2740 with a rule of 
construction, stating, ``nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
affect intelligence activities that are otherwise permissible prior to 
the enactment of this Act.'' This amendment does not change the force 
of the legislation, does not limit the scope of the MEJA jurisdiction, 
and does not grant immunity to anyone, including contractor employees 
of the intelligence community. I am voting in support of this motion 
because it simply restates existing law.
  Mr. Price's legislation would place contractor employees of non-
defense related agencies under the extraterritorial jurisdiction of 
United States federal law, granting the Department of Justice authority 
to prosecute felony offenses committed by non-defense contractors. The 
motion to recommit restates what the underlying bill requires--that 
intelligence activities are subject to the requirements of MEJA. 
Nothing in this motion to recommit or the legislation should ever be 
construed to authorize, condone or legitimize the abuse of prisoners 
during detention or interrogations. It is with this understanding alone 
that I support this motion to recommit.

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