Twelve Steps—Related Legislation

12 Steps

Below is a list of legislation pending before the 110th Congress. By closing the gap between the Executive and Congressional branches of government, if passed, these laws will restore the system of checks and balance as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Click the bill or resolution number to read the summary on thomas.gov. Legislation that has been passed in to law is denoted by "*passed" followed by the date it went into record as law.

THE WHITE HOUSE AND CHECKS & BALANCES
• Signing Statements
• Excessive Secrecy & Classification
• Executive Privilege
OVERSIGHT OF INTELLIGENCE
SURVEILLANCE & SECRECY
• FISA
TORTURE, RENDITION & DETENTION
• Habeas Corpus
• Guantanamo

The White House and Checks & Balances

  • H.R. 3835 -- American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 To restore the Constitution's checks and balances and protections against government abuses as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), introduced 10/15/2007.

 

Signing Statments 

  • S. 1747 -- Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2007 A bill to regulate the judicial use of presidential signing statements in the interpretation of Act of Congress. Prohibits any state or federal court from relying on or deferring to a presidential signing statement as a source of authority when determining the meaning of any Act of Congress. Sponsored by Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA), introduced 6/27/2007.
  • H.R. 264 -- Congressional Lawmaking Authority Protection Act of 2007 To prevent the President from encroaching upon the Congressional prerogative to make laws, and for other purposes. Congressional Lawmaking Authority Protection Act of 2007 - Prohibits the use of funds made available to the Executive Office of the President, or to any executive agency, to produce, publish, or disseminate any presidential statement made contemporaneously with the signing of any legislation by him (signing statement). Sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), introduced 1/5/2007.
  • H.R. 3045 -- Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2007 To regulate the judicial use of presidential signing statements in the interpretation of Acts of Congress. Prohibits any state or federal court from relying on or deferring to a presidential signing statement as a source of authority when determining the meaning of any Act of Congress. Sponsored by Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), introduced 7/16/2007.
  • H.R. 5993 -- Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2008 To promote congressional and public awareness, understanding, and political accountability of presidential signing statements. Sponsored by Walter Jones (R-NC), introduced 5/8/2008. 

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Excessive Secrecy & Classification

  • S. 886 -- Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 A bill to amend chapter 22 of title 44, United States Code, popularly known as the Presidential Records Act, to establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records. Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), introduced 3/14/2007.
  • S. 2488 -- OPEN Government Act of 2007 Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to revise requirements for federal agency disclosures of information requested under that Act. Sponsored Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), introduced 12/14/2007.
  • S. 2533 -- A bill to enact a safe, fair, and responsible state secrets privilege Act Sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), introduced 1/22/2008.
  • H.R. 1255 -- Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 To amend chapter 22 of title 44, United States Code, popularly known as the Presidential Records Act, to establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records. Sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), introduced 3/1/2007.
  • H.R. 1309 -- Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007 To promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act). Sponsored by William Lacy Clay (D-MO), introduced 3/5/2007.
  • H.R. 4806 -- Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2007 To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to prevent the over-classification of homeland security and other information and to promote the sharing of unclassified homeland security and other information. Sponsored by Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), introcuded 12/18/2007.
  • H. Res. 734 -- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the withholding of information relating to corruption in Iraq Sponsoed by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), introduced 10/16/2007.

Executive Privilege

  • S. Res. 303 --  A resolution censuring the President and the Attorney General Censures President George W. Bush and Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and condemns them for: undermining the rule of law and the separation of powers; disregarding statutes, treaties, and the Constitution; and repeatedly misleading the American people. Sponsred by Russ Feingold (D-WI), introduced 8/3/2007.
  • H. Res. 689 -- Calling upon George W. Bush, President of the United States, to urge full cooperation by his former political appointees, current Administration officials, and their friends and associates with congressional investigations Urges the President to: call upon associates and appointees who have asserted executive privilege to come forward and testify before Congress; and use all legal means at his disposal to compel people to cooperate with a congressional investigation.Sponsored by Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-OR), introduced 9/27/2007.

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Oversight of Intelligence

  • S. 82 -- Intelligence Community Audit Act of 2007 A bill to reaffirm the authority of the Comptroller General to audit and evaluate the programs, activities, and financial transactions of the intelligence community. Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), introduced 1/4/2007.
  • H.R. 1 -- Congressional Oversite of Intelligence To provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), introduced 1/5/2007.
  • H.R. 978 -- Intelligence Community Audit Act of 2007 To reaffirm the authority of the Comptroller General to audit and evaluate the programs, activities, and financial transactions of the intelligence community. Sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), introduced 2/9/2007.
  • H. Res. 35 -- To enhance intelligence oversight authority Amends Rule X (Organization of Committees) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish a Select Intelligence Oversight Panel of the Committee on Appropriations to: review and study on a continuing basis budget requests for and execution of intelligence activities; make recommendations to relevant subcommittees of the Committee; and annually report to its Defense Subcommittee on budgetary and oversight observations and recommendations for use in preparation of the classified annex to the bill making Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations. Sponsored by Rep. David Obey (D-WI), introduced 1/5/2007.

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Surveillance & Secrecy

  • S. 1927 -- Protect America Act of 2007 Bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to provide additional procedures for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence information and for other purposes. Sponsored by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), introduced 8/1/2007.
  • H.R. 11 -- NSA Oversight Act To reiterate that chapters 119 and 121 of title 18, United States Code, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 are the exclusive means by which domestic electronic surveillance may be conducted. Sponsored by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), introduced 1/4/2007.
  • H.R. 1739 -- National Security Letter Judicial and Congressional Oversight Act To require the approval of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judge or designated United States Magistrate Judge for the issuance of a national security letter, to require the Attorney General to submit semiannual reports on national security letters. Sponsored by Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), introduced 3/8/2007.
  • S.1114 -- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Improvement and Enhancement Act of 2007 A bill to reiterate the exclusivity of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 as the sole authority to permit the conduct of electronic surveillance, to modernize surveillance authorities, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), introduced 4/16/2007.
  • H.R.5607 -- State Secret Protection Act of 2008 To provide safe, fair, and responsible procedures and standards for resolving claims of state secret privilege. Sponsored by Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), introduced 3/13/2008.

FISA

  • S. 2248 -- FISA Amendments Act of 2007 An original bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), introduced 10/26/2007.
  • H.R. 3773 -- FISA Amendments Act of 2008 To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence. Sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), introduced 10/9/2007.

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Torture, Rendition & Detention

  • S. 576 -- Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007 A bill to provide for the effective prosecution of terrorists and guarantee due process rights. Sponsored by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), introduced 2/13/2007.
  • S. 1876 -- National Security with Justice Act of 2007 A bill to prohibit extraterritorial detention and rendition, except under limited circumstances, to modify the definition of "unlawful enemy combatant" for purposes of military commissions, to extend statutory habeas corpus to detainees, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), introduced 7/25/07.
  • H.R. 1352 -- Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act To prohibit the return or other transfer of persons by the United States, for the purpose of detention, interrogation, trial, or otherwise, to countries where torture or other inhuman treatment of persons occurs, and for other purposes. Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of State to submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual list of countries where there are substantial grounds for believing that torture, cruel, or degrading treatment is commonly used in the detention or interrogation of individuals. Sponsored by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), introduced 3/6/2007.
  • H.R. 1415 -- Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007 To provide for the effective prosecution of terrorists and guarantee due process rights. Sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), introduced 4/20/2007.
  • H.R. 4114 -- American Anti-Torture Act of 2007 To modify certain provisions of law relating to torture. Amends the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 to prohibit any person in the custody or control of the United States (under current law, the Department of Defense) from being subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not authorized by and listed in the U.S. Army Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation. Sponsored by Rep.Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), introduced 11/8/2007.
  • H.R. 5460 -- Amend the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and title 18 To include waterboarding in the definition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and in the definition of torture. Sponsored by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), introduced 2/14/2008.

 

Habeas Corpus

  • S. 185 -- Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 Sponsored by Arlen Spector (R-PA), introduced 1/4/2007.
  • H.R. 267 -- Military Commissions Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 To amend title 28, United States Code, to repeal the restriction on the jurisdiction of courts, justices, and judges to hear or consider applications for writs of habeas corpus filed by or on behalf of certain aliens detained by the United States. Sponsored by Rep. Shiela Jackson-Lee (D-TX), introduced, 1/5/2007.
  • H.R. 1189 -- To preserve the right to habeas corpus Nothing in the Military Commissions Act of 2006 or any amendment made by that Act shall affect the right of any resident of the United States of America to habeas corpus. The preceding sentence shall be construed in accordance with the 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Sponsored by Rep. David Wu (D-OR), introduced 2/16/2007.
  • H.R. 1416 -- Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007- Repeals provisions of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that eliminated the jurisdiction of any court to hear or consider applications for a writ of habeas corpus filed by aliens who have been determined by the United States to have been properly detained as enemy combatants and actions against the United States relating to the detention of such aliens and to military commissions. Sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), introduced 3/8/2007.
  • H.R. 2826 -- To amend titles 28 and 10, United States Code, to restore habeas corpus for individuals detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Sponsored by Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), introduced 6/22/2007.

Guantanamo

  • S. 1249 -- To require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Sponsered by Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), introduced 4/30/2007.
  • H.R. 2212 -- To require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Sponsored by Jane Harman (D-CA, introduced 5/8/2007.
  • H.R. 2543 -- Military Commissions Revision Act of 2007 To amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the definition of unlawful enemy combatant for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Defense relating to military commissions, to establish a statutory right of habeas corpus for individuals detained at the detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Sponsored by Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), introduced 5/24/2007.
  • S. 1469 -- Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007 To require the closure of the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Tom Harkin (D-IA), introduced 5/23/2007.
  • H.R. 2543 -- Military Commissions Revision Act of 2007 To amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the definition of unlawful enemy combatant for
    purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Defense relating to military commissions, to establish a statutory right of habeas corpus for individuals
    detained at the detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Sponsored by Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), introduced 5/24/2007.
  • H. R. 2826 -- To amend titles 28 and 10, United States Code, to restore habeas corpus for individuals detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Ike Skelton (D-MO), introduced 6/22/2007.

 

 

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