Bishop Votes To Support Military, Cites Need For Strong Oversight Of Detainee Provisions
Southampton - Congressman Tim Bishop voted to approve legislation authorizing U.S. Defense activities in 2012, including a 1.6 percent increase in military pay and increased funding for the protection of forces deployed in overseas contingency operations. Bishop said the bill would provide the equipment, resources, authorities, and training required by the men and women who ensure national security and defend America's interests overseas.
Bishop said he carefully weighed concerns regarding new counterterrorism provisions contained in the legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012, but that recent revisions to the bill in a House-Senate conference committee sufficiently addressed those concerns. The House-Senate conference version of the bill contains a clarification that "nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities, relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States." Also, under the revised bill, any U.S. citizen or foreigner detained as a suspected member or ally of al-Qaeda or the Taliban retains the habeas corpus right to have the legality of their detention determined by U.S. courts. The legislation also exempts U.S. citizens and legal residents from a requirement that suspected al-Qaeda members be tried in military tribunals.
"We need to remain proactive in our fight against al-Qaeda while preserving American values and due process rights," said Bishop. "The revised detainee sections of this bill contain sufficient Congressional oversight and flexibility for the President as Commander-in-Chief to strike that delicate balance while the threat remains."
Bishop said the NDAA makes some progress on confronting the emerging health crisis among members of the military who have served in the vicinity of open air burn pits used for waste disposal in Iraq and Afghanistan. The legislation requires that the Department of Defense compile a report for each burn pit where at least 100 personnel have been employed for 90 consecutive days or more including: "an epidemiological description of the short-term and long-term health risks posed to personnel in the area where the burn pit is located be cause of exposure to the open-air burn pit." However, Bishop said that the final bill should have retained an amendment he added to the House-passed NDAA requiring the Department of Defense to provide a report on the feasibility of establishing an active registry for service members and veterans who have been exposed to occupational and environmental chemical hazards such as toxic burn pits.
"Medical experts have established that breathing the fumes from burning plastic, munitions, and other toxic garbage is hazardous to health, and they have linked burn pits to cancers and respiratory illnesses in veterans," said Bishop. "We need to focus on proactively identifying veterans who are suffering now or may be affected in the future and getting them the care they need."
Bishop expressed his deep gratitude for the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces and their families as the Iraq War draws to a close.
"The American involvement in Iraq came at a terrible cost, including the lives of seven of my constituents," Bishop said. "The loss of these fine young men will always weigh heavily in our hearts, and their sacrifice in our nation's service will never be forgotten."
Seven members of the U.S. Armed Forces were residents of New York's First Congressional District at the time of their death in action in Iraq:
Staff Sgt. James D. McNaughton, U.S. Army, Middle Island (2003); Petty Officer-HM2 Jeffrey L. Wiener, U.S. Navy, Medford (2005); Lance Corporal Jared Kremm, U.S. Marine Corps, Hauppauge (2005); Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth, U.S. Army, Mastic (2006); Corporal James E. Lundin, U.S. Army, Bellport (2007); Cpl. Paolo Marko Pacificador, U.S. Army, Shirley (2007); Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter, U.S. Marine Corps, Sag Harbor (2008);
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