American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007

The American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 (H.R. 3835) was introduced by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) on October 15, 2007, and was then referred for consideration to the Committee on the Judiciary, in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select) for varying periods to be determined by the Speaker. If passed, the bill would "restore the Constitution's checks and balances and protections against government abuses".

Bill summary
The American Freedom Agenda Act would repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006 in addition to further defining Presidential authority in relation to Enemy Combatants, Torture, Intelligence Gathering, Detentions, and Secret Evidence.

Introductory remarks
In a speech to Congress on October 15, 2007, Rep. Paul made the following statement regarding his introduction of the American Freedom Agenda Act:

"'Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a comprehensive piece of legislation to restore the American Constitution and to restore the liberties that have been sadly eroded over the past several years."

"This legislation seeks to restore the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution by our Founding Fathers to prevent abuse of Americans by their government. This proposed legislation would repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and re-establish the traditional practice that military commissions may be used to try war crimes in places of active hostility where a rapid trial is necessary to preserve evidence or prevent chaos."

"The legislation clarifies that no information shall be admitted as evidence if it is obtained from the defendant through the use of torture or coercion. It codifies the FISA process as the means by which foreign intelligence may be obtained and it gives members of the Senate and the House of Representatives standing in court to challenge presidential signing statements that declares the president's intent to disregard certain aspects of a law passed in the U.S. Congress. It prohibits kidnapping and extraordinary rendition of prisoners to foreign countries on the president's unilateral determination that the suspect is an enemy combatant. It defends the first amendment by clarifying that journalists are not to be prevented from publishing information received from the legislative or executive branch unless such publication would cause immediate, direct, and irreparable harm to the United States."

"Finally, the legislation would prohibit the use of secret evidence to designate an individual or organization with a United States presence to be a foreign terrorist or foreign terrorist organization."

"I invite my colleagues to join my efforts to restore the U.S. Constitution by enacting the American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007.'"

Related SourceWatch articles

 * American Freedom Agenda
 * American Freedom Campaign
 * Ron Paul