[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RELUCTANT OPPOSITION TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2012

  (Mr. MORAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, which we will be voting on 
today.
  The bill does include provisions that are vital to our national 
defense, but it also includes provisions that present a false choice 
between our safety and our values.
  Section 1021 would authorize the indefinite military detention of all 
terrorism suspects. Allowing the United States military to detain 
individuals, some of whom may be innocent, without charge or trial 
during this endless war on terrorism undermines our most defining 
principles as a Nation of individual freedom and justice for all.
  Mr. Speaker, our civilian law enforcement agencies have proven 
themselves capable of apprehending, interrogating, and prosecuting 
terrorism suspects. In fact, civilian courts have overseen the 
successful prosecution of more than 400 terrorists--the military courts 
only six.
  This Congress should not impose these law enforcement duties upon our 
troops. It is un-American and unconstitutional. We should reject the 
false choice between our short-term security and our long-term survival 
as the leader of the free world.

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