Oberstar, Carson and Blumenauer add Sponsorship of H.R. 1415

H.R. 1415 is a bill proposed in the House of Representatives to repeal many of the most onerous features of the Military Commissions Act. If passed, some of its main acts would be to:

1. Restore the right of habeas corpus for people detained by the U.S.
2. Narrow the definition of the MCA term “unlawful enemy combatant” to individuals who directly participate in attacks against the United States.
3. Let United States detainees invoke the ethical codes of the Geneva Conventions again.
4. Let U.S. detainees obtain a civilian lawyer for their defense.
5. Prohibit the use of evidence garnered through torture.
6. Prohibit the use of hearsay, upon the discretion of a judge.
7. Let juries know how statements were obtained from detainees.
8. Permit federal appeals courts to review the decisions of military commissions.

In short, H.R. 1415 would restore respect for the Constitution and human rights to the government of the United States.

Yesterday, Representative James Oberstar of Minnesota added his cosponsorship to H.R. 1415, and last week Representatives Julia Carson of Indiana and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon did the same. The three have recognized how important the restoration of constitutional standards are to our country. One can only hope that enough members of the Congress will follow suit and help bring this bill toward passage.

Has your Representative made a stand against the Military Commissions Act? Or — like Neil Abercrombie, Yvette Clarke, John Conyers, Dennis Kucinich, Gwen Moore, Eleanor Holmes-Norton, Louise Slaughter and Maxine Waters — does your representative in Washington, DC claim membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus while committing the decidedly unprogressive act of sitting on the sidelines and letting the matter of constitutional liberties slip into irrelevance? Click here to find out. Then, if your member of Congress is abrogating her or his duty to protect and defend the Constitution, make a call.