For Immediate Release
September 27, 2006

Congressman Pitts Supports Terrorist Tribunal Bill

Washington— Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) today voted for H.R. 6166, the Military Commissions Act of 2006.  The legislation creates a new judicial system to prosecute terrorists captured in the ongoing Global War on Terrorism, while also protecting American troops and intelligence agents fighting terrorists.  The bill was approved overwhelmingly in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 253-168.  The Senate is expected to act on a similar bill this week.

“On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked our country and murdered nearly 3,000 innocent civilians.  Today, we passed legislation that will help ensure that those responsible for that horrible day are held to account,” Congressman Pitts said.  “This legislation will also protect our military and intelligence gathering personnel as they continue the hard work of protecting our nation from further attack.”

The Military Commissions Act establishes a system of military tribunals to try alien enemy combatants who have engaged in or supported terrorist activities.  The act ensures that terrorists have basic legal rights, including the right to counsel, the right to obtain evidence and witnesses, and the right to appeal a guilty verdict.  Suspected terrorists have the right to be present at all legal proceedings, and no evidence may be presented to the jury unless it is also provided to the accused terrorist. 

The substantive findings of classified evidence will be admissible in an unclassified form, but the classified evidence itself is protected and is privileged from disclosure to accused terrorists—as well as the panel of jurists—if the disclosure of the information would be detrimental to national security.   The act also protects our military and intelligence personnel by codifying violations of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention.  Currently, the article’s vague provisions are open to a variety of interpretations, potentially rendering American personnel liable to prosecution without just cause.

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