October 17, 2006 - MARKEY BLASTS MILITARY COMMISSIONS LAW SIGNED BY BUSH TODAY
Washington, DC -- Today Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following statement in opposition to the President’s signing of military tribunals legislation passed by the House and Senate prior to recess, which grants retroactive immunity to American officials who may have ordered or committed war crimes since 1997. The new law will also make certain interrogation techniques prohibited by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions as cruel or degrading, legal under American law.
September 27, 2006 - MARKEY OPPOSES MILITARY COMMISSIONS BILL TODAY ON HOUSE FLOOR
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, took the floor of the House this morning to oppose the Military Commissions Act. Rep. Markey opposed the "compromise" reached between White House negotiators and three Republican Senators , John McCain (R-AZ), John Warner (R-VA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who had opposed the President’s initial legislation for military tribunals, grants retroactive immunity to American officials who may have ordered or committed war crimes since 1997. The agreement, if enacted into law, will also make many practices which are prohibited by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions legal under American law.
September 22, 2006 - MARKEY: CAPITULATION ON TORTURE, NOT COMPROMISE
Washington, DC -- Today Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, condemned the compromise on redefining America’s commitments under the Geneva Conventions announced by President Bush yesterday.
September 14, 2006 - MARKEY SENDS LETTER TO BUSH URGING ADMIN. TO NOT CHANGE THE WAR CRIMES ACT OF 1996
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) sent a letter to President Bush expressing deep concern over recent reports that the administration may be drafting legislation to make changes to the 1996 War Crimes Act that may grant protections for US personnel prosecuted for violating the Geneva Conventions. Joining a number of Democratic colleagues, the letter addresses adverse affects that may surface if the United States undermines its commitment to fair and humane treatment of detainees.
