To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Tell Congress: Ban Torture. Period.
Right now, torture is banned because of President Obama's executive order. It's time for Congress to pass a law banning torture, by all agencies, so that a future president can never revoke the ban.
Why is this important?
We live in a dangerous world. But when CIA operatives and contractors torture terrorist suspects, it doesn't make us safer -- and it doesn't work. The recent CIA torture report made that abundantly clear.
Right now, the federal law that bans torture only applies to the U.S. military -- not our intelligence agencies.
President Obama's executive order barring all agencies from using torture could be reversed, even in secret, by a future president. That's why it's critical that Congress act swiftly to pass a law barring all agencies of the U.S. government, and contractors acting on our behalf, from engaging in torture.
Without legislation, the door on torture is still open. It's time for Congress to slam that door shut once and for all.
Right now, the federal law that bans torture only applies to the U.S. military -- not our intelligence agencies.
President Obama's executive order barring all agencies from using torture could be reversed, even in secret, by a future president. That's why it's critical that Congress act swiftly to pass a law barring all agencies of the U.S. government, and contractors acting on our behalf, from engaging in torture.
Without legislation, the door on torture is still open. It's time for Congress to slam that door shut once and for all.