A watch must be placed on S. 1867: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, most especially on proposed amendments.
Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire has proposed S. Amdt. 1068, To authorize lawful interrogation methods in addition to those authorized by the Army Field Manual for the collection of foreign intelligence information through interrogations. Ayotte's cohorts on this "enhanced interrogation" amendment are the Senators Saxbe Chambliss of Georgia, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas.
The intent of this amendment is to repeal the Executive Order banning torture and undermine a key aspect of the Detainee Treatment Act allowing for some service members to engage in interrogation techniques outside The Army Field Manual.
Please tell your senators to vote "No" on Ayotte's amendment, unless you love "enhanced interrogation."
The NDAA also contains controversial detention provisions in sections 1031, 1032 and 1033 undermining federal courts and weakening the counter-terrorism efforts of our country, further weakening our international position. Senator Mark Udall of Colorado has introduced S. Amdt. 1107, To revise the provisions relating to detainee matters, which strikes these provisions and mandates, in their place, that Congress use an orderly process to consider whether any detention legislation is needed.
Please tell your senators to support the Udall amendment.
For further info refer to the action page of Human Rights First.
Another amendment to watch is that of Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon,S. Amdt. 1174, To express the sense of Congress regarding the expedited transition of responsibility for military and security operations in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan, which has the multi-partisan support of Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Lee of Utah and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.