H.R. 591 would improve United States capabilities for gathering human intelligence through the effective interrogation and detention of terrorist suspects and for bringing terrorists to justice through effective prosecution in accordance with the principles and values set forth in the Constitution and other laws.
Detailed Summary
Interrogation and Detention Reform Act of 2008 [<i>sic</i>] - Requires a head of an element of the intelligence community who has custody or effective control of an detained individual to immediately notify the International Committee of the Red Cross of such custody or control and allow such Committee physical and repeat access to such individual.
Repeals: (1) the Military Commissions Act of 2006; (2) additional punitive provisions relating to conspiracy to commit crimes against the law of war and additional prohibitions against cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; (3) prohibitions against the issuance of writs of habeas corpus for enemy combatants; and (4) the authority to conduct combatant status review tribunals.
Directs the President to: (1) close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; (2) remove from such facility each individual designated as an enemy combatant or unlawful enemy combatant; and (3) submit a plan to Congress for the prosecution, transfer, release, or other disposition of such combatants.
Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to the investigation and prosecution of international terrorism.
Directs the President to: (1) establish uniform standards for the interrogation of individuals in U.S. custody or under U.S. control; (2) establish the U.S. Center for Excellence in Human Intelligence Collection to train members of the Armed Forces and personnel of the intelligence community to conduct research and examine doctrine and policy related to human intelligence collection; and (3) submit to Congress a strategy for the detention of terrorist suspects and convicts.
Prohibits the use of private contractors for activities relating to the capture, custody, control, or other pertinent interaction with a detainee or prisoner in U.S. custody.
Establishes requirements for recording strategic intelligence interrogations of indivduals held in U.S. custody or under detention in a U.S. facility.
Expresses the sense of Congress relating to international cooperation on human intelligence collection.
Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop incentives for the improvement of human intelligence collection capabilities.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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From the Blog
Right and Wrong on Torture
The debate about torture - or “enhanced interrogation methods,” if you prefer - has swamped the Obama administration a bit, as this Politico article discusses. Many different pieces of the fallout are covered in a Washington Post blog post,...