[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 194 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2082, INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2007

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
Conference Report to the Intelligence Authorization Act of 2008. This 
legislation authorizes appropriations for the conduct of intelligence 
and intelligence-related activities of the Office of the Director of 
National Intelligence; the Central Intelligence Agency; the Department 
of Defense; the National Security Agency; and the Drug Enforcement 
Administration.
  The legislation touches all aspects of our national security--from 
preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, to anticipating 
and addressing developing threats around the world. Additionally, this 
legislation ensures that intelligence is collected, analyzed, and 
disseminated in a manner that comports with American law, policies and 
values.
  In conference, we added a provision requiring U.S. interrogation 
policies employed by our intelligence community to follow those 
outlined in the U.S. Army Field Manual. The strength of our Nation 
comes not only from the might of our military, but from the power of 
our example. Historically, the United States has stood as a beacon for 
human rights and the rule of law. Unfortunately, that light has been 
dimmed recently as a result of the Bush Administration's gross 
indifference to the Geneva Convention and anti-torture regimes. The 
language was inserted not only to help regain our moral standing around 
the world, but also as a critical step toward protecting our own troops 
captured in the field. It is no secret that the world looks to how we 
treat our prisoners when determining how to treat our troops.
  When we practice waterboarding or when we inhumanely parade our 
detainees around naked before the cameras, the world sees this as the 
standard to apply to the treatment of American troops.
  According to testimony received by intelligence committees in the 
House and Senate, the U.S. Army Field Manual provides a detailed 
description of interrogation strategies that can be used to effectively 
elicit information from detainees while allowing the flexibility to 
adapt particular approaches to particular situations.
  Importantly, the U.S. Army Field Manual also includes a number of 
specific prohibitions. Acts of violence or intimidation--including 
physical or mental torture, or exposure to inhumane treatment--are 
prohibited.
  It also explicitly prohibits forcing a detainee to be naked; perform 
sexual acts; placing hoods or sacks over the head of a detainee; 
electric shock; burning or other forms of physical pain; waterboarding; 
using military working dogs; conducting mock executions; and depriving 
the detainee of necessary food, water, or medical care.
  Private security companies, funded by billions of dollars in U.S. 
military and State Department contracts, are performing many of the 
jobs handled by our troops. Some of these jobs include work assigned to 
the intelligence community.
  This conference report adds an additional level of oversight and 
accountability of these contractors by requiring the director of 
national intelligence to provide a report to Congress by April of next 
year, describing the services performed by contractors across the 
Intelligence Community.
  This conference report seeks to start the process of establishing a 
clear definition of the functions that may be appropriately performed 
by contractors employed by the intelligence community. It is key that 
the intelligence community exercises the will to identify criminal 
violations by contractors and puts in place procedures to respond to 
financial fraud or other abuses. Requiring a report of contractor 
activities will help policymakers determine whether intelligence 
contractors are performing functions that are legal or that should be 
performed by government employees.
  Passage today of this conference report will correct a three-year 
failure by Congress to pass an Intelligence Authorization bill. With 
this legislation, Congress sends to the President an intelligence 
package that makes new investments in human intelligence training and 
adds funds for sending analysts overseas while also enhancing oversight 
and eliminating wasteful spending. This conference report is also a 
significant move in the direction of reestablising our reputation 
abroad as a country dedicated to promoting and observing human rights.
  I am happy to support this conference report and I encourage my 
colleagues to do the same.

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