This country should never stoop to torturing people, and we need to put the government on record saying that. This is an important legislation to close loopholes and stop the double-talk and obfuscations from the Bush Administration. Torture doesn't work, the information you get is unreliable, and it's a black mark on the honor of any country that condones it.
Please add your voice to the chorus of Americans standing up and saying, "Not in our name!" We won't have torture committed in our name by any branch of our government. We believe in the rights and dignity of individuals, and our country is too great to be lowered to the level of torturing people. This will be a big fight, and I'll keep you updated with any further ways you can help win this fight for the soul of America. And, when you sign the petition, if you'd like, leave a comment in your own words explaining why you think this is important.
Underneath the petition I'll include the text of the legislation. Thank you so much for your help. This is an important fight for the dignity of all of us.
Thank you so much,
John Kerry
I support the passage of bill S.1943, the legislation to ban our government from committing torture.
Text of S.1943
To establish uniform standards for interrogation techniques applicable to individuals under the custody or physical control of the United States Government. (Introduced in Senate)
S 1943 IS
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1943
To establish uniform standards for interrogation techniques applicable to individuals under the custody or physical control of the United States Government.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 2, 2007
Mr. KENNEDY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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A BILL
To establish uniform standards for interrogation techniques applicable to individuals under the custody or physical control of the United States Government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES APPLICABLE TO INDIVIDUALS UNDER CONTROL OR CUSTODY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
(a) In General- No individual in the custody or under the effective control of the United States Government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, regardless of nationality or physical location, shall be subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not authorized by sections 5-50 through 5-99 of the United States Army Field Manual on Human Intelligence Collector Operations.
(b) Prohibited Actions- The treatment or techniques of interrogation prohibited under subsection (a) include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Forcing an individual to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner.
(2) Placing a hood or sack over the head of an individual, or using or placing duct tape over the eyes of an individual.
(3) Applying a beating, electric shock, burns, or other forms of physical pain to an individual.
(4) Subjecting an individual to the procedure known as `waterboarding'.
(5) Subjecting an individual to threats or attack from a military working dog.
(6) Inducing hypothermia or heat injury in an individual.
(7) Conducting a mock execution of an individual.
(8) Depriving an individual of necessary food, water, or medical care.
(c) Applicability- Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to any individual in the custody or under the effective control of the United States Government pursuant to a criminal law or immigration law of the United States.
(d) Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the rights under the United States Constitution of any individual in the custody or under the effective control of the United States Government.