[GPSCC-chat] Fw: Message From Rep. Anna G. Eshoo

[Caroline Yacoub]

I wrote to Anna Eshoo thanking her for her no vote on the defense authorization 
bill. This was her reply. I thought you might be interested.
Caroline



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "ca14ima.pub at mail.house.gov" <ca14ima.pub at mail.house.gov>
To: carolineyacoub at att.net
Sent: Mon, December 19, 2011 3:06:48 PM
Subject: Message From Rep. Anna G. Eshoo

 
    
  
December 19, 2011 
  
  
Dear  Mrs. Yacoub , 
  
Thank you for contacting me about the National Defense Authorization Act, 
legislation which sets defense policy and spending levels for the coming year. 
On May 26 th I voted against the Ho use version of this legislation.   O n 
December 14 th I voted against the  House-Senate Conference Report,  but   it 
passed the House by a vote of 283-136. 

  
The Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization  authorizes $670 billion  for defense 
activities, inclu ding personnel expenses, health care, weapons systems, and 
base construction.  I could not support the measure for several reasons. 

  
In the most general sense, despite severe cutbacks throughout the government and 
the lowest revenue levels in years, this legislation sets a defense spending 
level that is twice as high as the rest of the world, combined. Although the 
overall level is a reduction from last year, the reduction is primarily related  
to our planned drawdown in Iraq. Congress has failed to make serious, 
fundamental changes to defense spending. In order to be serious about fiscal 
responsibility— and I believe we must be—Congress  has to take a much harder  
look at the defense budget than this legislation reflects. 

  
The Defense Authorization also include s several provisions that I  oppose and 
consider a threat to our national security and civil liberties. Similar to past 
pieces of legislation, the bill effectively blocks the closure of the Guantanamo 
Bay detention facility in Cuba.  As  I' ve  stated for many years, the 
continuing use of this facility is strategically counterproductive and offensive 
to our most closely-held American values. Insisting on its continuing use and 
prohibiting the transfer of its inmates to regular prisons , as this legislation 
does, is a step in exactly the wrong direction. 

  
The Defense Authorization also contains unacceptable provisions related to the 
treatment of detainees. Ignoring the views of the President, the Secretary of 
Defense, the Director of the CIA, and the Director of the FBI, the Defense 
Authorization includes mandatory military detention for  many  terrorism 
suspects, including  noncitizens captured within the U.S. The law permits 
indefinite detention, circumventing suspects' habeas corpus rights. This policy 
will thwart the efforts of our civilian law enforcement officers whose efforts 
have protected our country from terrorism since 9/11 and raise serious 
Constitutional issues.  Although President Obama has indicated he will no longer 
veto the bill, h uman rights groups, law enforcement , and the defense community 
are united in their opposition to this policy, and I  could not support it. 

  
I will conti nue to be an active participant in the discussions concerning how 
best to protect our country, our civil rights, and our fiscal responsibility, 
and I appreciate your input into this critical conversation. 

If you have any other questions or comments, let me hear from you.  I value what 
my constituents say to me, and always need your thoughts and benefit from your 
ideas.


I've created an ongoing e-newsletter to keep constituents informed on a variety 
of congressional issues and legislation.  Many constituents tell me how much 
they value reading it, and if you would like to as well, you can go to my 
website at http://eshoo.house.gov and click on Sign Up for ENews.  Your email 
address will never be used by anyone except my office to communicate with you, 
and your tax dollars will be conserved by using electronic communications rather 
than traditional mailings. Sincerely,
 
Anna G. Eshoo
Member of Congress
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