FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Democrats to Introduce Legislation to Create Select Committee to Investigate Prisoner Abuse

Washington,  D.C. -- House  Democratic Leader Pelosi, Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman,  Armed Services Ranking Member Skelton, and other senior congressional leaders today announced plans to introduce legislation to create a House select committee to investigate the abuses of detainees held in U.S.custody in connection with the war in Iraqand the global war on terrorism.  The resolution would charge a bipartisan group of 14 Members with thoroughly investigating evidence of detainee abuse and torture in Iraq, Afghanistan, and GuantanamoBay. 

“We first introduced this resolution a year ago after the Republican majority refused repeated requests to investigate the accounts of prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib,” said Rep. Waxman.  “Since then, the scope of the problem has exploded.  Nearly every week brings new reports of horrific abuse of individuals in U.S. custody.  Yet still there has been no serious congressional investigation.  The failure of Congress to conduct responsible oversight, which is our constitutional duty, is shameful.”

In just the past week, new evidence emerged of the desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo Bay, the involvement of Navy Seals in beating detainees in Iraq, and the gruesome, ultimately fatal torture of Afghans at the U.S. detention center in Bagram, Afghanistan.

The select committee would conduct a full review of the alleged abuses of detainees, investigate who is responsible, and assess whether legislative or executive action should result. 

Current sponsors of the legislation:

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Government Reform

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, Democratic Whip

Rep. Robert Menendez, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus

Rep. James E. Clyburn, Vice Chairman of House Democratic Caucus

Rep. John M. Spratt, Jr., Assistant to the Democratic Leader

Rep. Ike Skelton, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Armed Services

Rep. Jane Harman, Ranking Minority Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Rep. Tom Lantos, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on International Relations

Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Minority Member, Committee on the Judiciary

Rep. John D. Dingell, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce  

Rep. David R. Obey, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Appropriations

Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Ways and Means

Rep. George Miller, Ranking Minority Member, Committee Education and the Workforce   

Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey, Committee on Appropriations

For more information, visit www.democrats.reform.house.gov.

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi