My Letter to Congress: Please support H.R.3676

I am writing as your constituent in the 7th Congressional district of California. I am writing in support of H.R.3676, and asking that you support your country by lending your vote - To amend the detainee provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 to specifically state that United States citizens may not be detained against their will without all the rights of due process afforded to citizens in a court ordained or established by or under Article III of the Constitution of the United States.

While I think it wrong that any person could be detained without any rights, regardless of nationality, this at least is a step in ensuring the Bill of Rights, and the constitution that have guided our country for hundreds of years will be upheld.

100% of users on OpenCongress.org, a free, non-partisan resource, support H.R.3676.

Thank you for your attention in this gravely important matter.

Sincerely,
Geneva Clawson

February 7, 2012





Mr. Geneva Clawson

175 East G Street

Benicia, CA 94510-3228



Dear Mr. Clawson,



Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to H.R. 1540, the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.



As you may already know, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1540
on December 14th. I voted against this harmful legislation. Not only
does this bill raise serious constitutional concerns, but it also
continues wasteful military spending and fails to make meaningful
progress toward bringing our troops home from Afghanistan.



Particularly troubling to me are provisions in H.R. 1540 that bind the
hands of the FBI and the Department of Justice in their efforts to
prosecute terrorists, and the extremely controversial provisions that
allow for the indefinite detention of certain suspects who are denied
the right to a fair and speedy trial. Under no circumstances should we
arbitrarily limit such a fundamental Constitutional right - but this
bill appears to do just that.



Meanwhile, as we struggle with record debt and deficits, it is important
to remember that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost taxpayers at
least $2.3 trillion to date, with an additional $884 billion in future
costs for veterans and their families. This adds up to a total of at
least $3.2 trillion. By ending the wars and paying for a safe, orderly,
and responsible redeployment of troops from both Afghanistan and Iraq,
we can go a long way toward meeting our fiscal challenges. This bill
was a key opportunity to help bring the war in Afghanistan to a rapid
and responsible end, yet the bill failed to include language that I and
a number of my colleagues supported to speed planning to bring our
troops home. In fact, it authorizes more than half a trillion dollars
in spending for the Department of Defense, even as other vital services
are being slashed indiscriminately.



At a time when Americans all over the country are sacrificing deeply, it
is unacceptable to continue wasting precious tax dollars to pay for
weapons systems that our troops don't need and contracts for services
that have no accountability, all while undermining constitutional
rights. I strongly opposed this bill, and I appreciate knowing your
thoughts on this matter as well.


Sincerely,


GEORGE MILLER
Member of Congress

P.S. Keep up with the latest news from Washington at
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Dear Ms. Clawson:



Thank you for writing to express your concerns about the detention
provisions in the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2012." I appreciate knowing your views and welcome the opportunity to
respond.



This year's defense authorization bill authorizes funding for the U.S.
Department of Defense. As you know, section 1021 authorizes the U.S.
government to detain suspected terrorists until the end of hostilities,
and section 1022 requires suspected terrorists connected to al Qaeda be
automatically detained in military custody when apprehended.



I strenuously opposed both these provisions during Senate debate and
offered amendments to prohibit the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens
without trial or charge and to clarify that the presumption of military
detention only exists for individuals captured abroad.



Unfortunately, on December 1, 2011, one of my amendments failed by a
vote of 45-55 in the Senate.



I was, however, able to reach a compromise with the authors of the
defense bill to state that no existing law or authorities to detain
Americans are changed by section 1021. While I would have preferred to
have restricted the government's ability to detain U.S. citizens without
charge, this compromise ensures the government's authority in this area
does not expand.



I continue to believe that Congress should explicitly prohibit
indefinite military detention without charge or trial. To that end, I
have introduced the "Due Process Guarantee Act" (S. 2003) to guarantee
that a congressional authorization for military force does not usurp the
right to due process for American citizens apprehended on U.S. soil.



A bipartisan group of senators have cosponsored this important
legislation that will preserve this fundamental American right. The
legislation has been referred to the Judiciary committee where it will
be the subject of an upcoming hearing.



Americans all across the country believe, as you do, that the government
cannot indefinitely detain American citizens inside this country without
trial or charge. Since you cared enough to write me about this
important issue, I'm going to ask for your help. Please continue to
speak out and contact members of Congress urging them to support the
"Due Process Guarantee Act." We need your help.



Once again, thank you for your letter. I am committed to ensuring that
our nation has the appropriate tools to combat terrorism, and committed
to upholding our fundamental constitutional rights. If you have any
additional comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact my
Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841.



Sincerely yours,


Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator


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