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Forum Post: H.R. 2989, the Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2013, Close SOA

Posted 10 years ago on Aug. 23, 2013, 7:39 a.m. EST by GirlFriday (17435)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Yep. School of Assasins. Read more here

Due to constituent pressure and the steadfast commitment of the movement to close the School of the America, we secured 40 ORIGINAL co-sponsors for the Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2013 (H.R. 2989) - the bill to suspend and investigate the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC)! (The list of original co-sponsors is below, with Republicans italicized.)

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[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Hmmmm . . . don't cha think the drug cartels will miss that resource?

Wait.........OHHHH..............Nevermind.

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[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

lol.

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[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Well it's still a valid question - some people might not of considered it . . . and . . . well . . ok....it was pretty silly.

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[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office] [H.R. 2989 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2989

To suspend the authority for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (the successor institution to the United States Army School of the Americas) in the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

                IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         August 2, 2013

Mr. McGovern (for himself, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Moore, Ms. Edwards, Ms. McCollum, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Honda, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Clay, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Farr, Ms. Waters, Mr. Welch, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Payne, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Yarmuth, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Serrano, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Polis, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, and Mr. Doggett) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

                             A BILL

To suspend the authority for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (the successor institution to the United States Army School of the Americas) in the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Latin America Military Training Review Act''.

SEC. 2. SUSPENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY COOPERATION.

(a) Suspension of Institute.--The Secretary of the Army shall suspend the operation of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation until the submission of the report under section 4(e).

(b) Suspension of Authority.--The authority of the Secretary of Defense to operate an education and training facility under section 2166 of title 10, United States Code, is suspended until the submission of the report under section 4(e).

(c) Limitation on Establishment of New Education and Training Facility.--No training or education facility may be established in the Department of Defense for Latin American military personnel (as a successor to the United States Army School of the Americas, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, or otherwise) until the submission of the report under section 4(e).

SEC. 3. JOINT CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE.

(a) Establishment.--There is established a joint congressional task force to conduct an assessment of the kind of education and training that is appropriate for the Department of Defense to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations.

(b) Composition.--The task force shall be composed of eight Members of Congress, of whom two each shall be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the minority leader of the Senate.

(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the task force shall submit to Congress a report on the assessment conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include--

        (1) a critical assessment of courses, curriculum, and 
    procedures appropriate for education and training of military 
    personnel of Latin American nations; and

        (2) an evaluation of the effect of such education and 
    training on the performance of Latin American military 
    personnel in the areas of human rights and adherence to 
    democratic principles and the rule of law.

(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Member'' includes a

Delegate to, or Resident Commissioner in, Congress.

SEC. 4. COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AT THE UNITED STATES ARMY SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS.

(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to

investigate the activities of the United States Army School of the Americas and its successor institution, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.

(b) Membership.--

        (1) Appointment.--The commission shall be composed of eight 
    members, of whom two each shall be appointed by the Speaker of  the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the

House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the minority leader of the Senate.

        (2) Qualifications.--Members of the commission shall be 
    selected from among individuals with knowledge and experience 
    in foreign military training and international human rights who 
    are not officers or employees of the Federal Government.

        (3) Deadline for appointment.--The members of the 
    commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the 
    date of the enactment of this Act.

        (4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy of the commission shall not 
    affect the powers of the commission and shall be filled in the 
    manner in which the original appointment was made.

        (5) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--The Chairperson and 
    Vice Chairperson of the commission shall be elected by the 
    members.

        (6) Compensation.--Members of the commission shall serve 
    without pay.

        (7) Travel expenses.--Each member of the commission shall 
    receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
    subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under 
    subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.

(c) Powers.--

        (1) Hearings and sessions.--The commission may, for the 
    purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and 
    act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 
    as the commission considers appropriate.

        (2) Information from federal agencies.--The commission may 
    secure directly from any Federal department or agency such 
    information as the commission considers necessary to carry out 
    the provisions of this section. Upon request of the Chairperson 
    of the commission, the head of such department or agency shall 
    furnish such information to the commission.

(d) Investigation.--Not later than two years after the date on

which all members of the commission have been appointed, the commission shall complete an investigation into the activities of the United States Army School of the Americas and its successor institution, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. The investigation shall--

        (1) identify those individuals responsible for drafting or 
    approving manuals for use at either such institution advocating 
    tactics that violate international law or the laws of the 
    United States;

        (2) determine how such manuals were used in training 
    conducted by either such institution;

        (3) determine the effect of such training; and

        (4) identify those individuals responsible for teaching 
    such tactics.

(e) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the completion of the

investigation under subsection (d), the commission shall submit to Congress and the Secretary of Defense a report containing the results of the investigation and recommendations for actions in response to any violations of human rights to which training at the United States Army School of the Americas or its successor institution, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, contributed.

(f) Termination.--The commission shall terminate 30 days after the

date of the submission of the report under subsection (e). http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/house-bill/2989/text

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Um . . . did I miss the italicized names of signers?

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[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

Cosponsers?

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[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Yeah - them - as I don't think I saw any - Italicized.

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[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

Well, there is only one. http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2989/cosponsors?party=Republican

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[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [R-PA-8]*

AHHHH - OK - he was listed just not italicized. Thanks I did not want to think unfairly of any group - nice to know the reasoning still applies for holding them in contempt. {:-])

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

" Mr. Fitzpatrick," Whoop ...bomp bomp bomp bomp bomp ...thereitis . . . Whoop...bomp bomp bomp bompbomp.................

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[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

Well, he is italicized in the link at the top. He is third down the list. But, I went and pulled the text from congress.gov site. I spose I could have paid attention and italicized it but, no........................I couldn't be bothered. ;P

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Well it was a nice thing to include him in the original order anyway. {:-])

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[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

I do try.

Sorta.

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Yes you do - sorta - lol.

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[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

I wouldn't want to be deemed as partisan.

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

GASP............Horror.......Aieeeeeeeeeee..........wait a mo......partisan what?

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[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

Summary: H.R.2989 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)

Introduced in House (08/02/2013)

Latin America Military Training Review Act - Directs the Secretary of the Army to suspend operation of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (Institute). Suspends the authority of the Secretary of Defense to operate such an education and training facility until submission of a report containing the results of an investigation in response to violations of human rights to which training at such Institute contributed.

Establishes: (1) a joint congressional task force to assess appropriate education and training for DOD to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations, and (2) a commission to investigate activities of the United States Army School of the Americas and its successor institution, the Institute. Congress.gov

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