Repeals a Federal law authorizing the Secretary of the Army to operate the military education and training facility known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas.
Authorizes the Secretary to operate the United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-Military Relations (Academy). Requires instruction at the Academy to be provided to civilian and military personnel of Latin American and Caribbean countries through seminars, roundtable discussions, conferences, and a guest instructor program.
Directs the Secretary to conduct a thorough screening of potential instructors and students at the Academy for commitment to and respect for democracy and human rights. Requires the Secretary to establish an advisory committee to provide advice on establishing and operating the Academy, as well as the content of its curriculum. Provides Academy funding.
States that this Act does not affect the authority to conduct countermine programs at Fort Benning, Georgia, at the School of the Americas in response to a request from the Organization of American States.
Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on Academy achievements after two years of operation.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that resources made available to operate the Academy should be commensurate with the total resources that were dedicated to the School of the Americas in FY 1996.
[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2652 Introduced in House (IH)]
104th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2652
To close the United States Army School of the Americas and establish a
United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-Military Relations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 16, 1995
Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Frank of
Massachusetts, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Stark, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Brown of
California, Mr. Gonzalez, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr.
Brown of Ohio, Ms. Rivers, Mr. Frost, Mr. Vento, Mr. DeFazio, Mr.
Conyers, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Barrett, of Wisconsin, Mr. Ackerman, Mr.
Moran, Ms. Eshoo, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Farr of California, Mr.
McDermott, Mr. Moakley, Mr. Markey, Mr. Miller of California, Mrs.
Maloney, Mr. Boucher, Mr. Klug, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Gejdenson,
Mr. Jacobs, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Torkildsen, Mr. Johnston of Florida, Mr.
Olver, and Ms. McKinney) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition
to the Committee on National Security, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To close the United States Army School of the Americas and establish a
United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-Military Relations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TERMINATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS
Section 4415 of chapter 407 of title 10, United States Code is
repealed.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACADEMY FOR DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL-MILITARY
RELATIONS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 407 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 4416. United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-Military
Relations
``(a) Establishment of Academy.--The Secretary of the Army, in
cooperation with the Secretary of State, may operate an educational
facility known as the United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-
Military Relations (in this section referred to as the ``Academy'').
``(b) Purposes of Academy.--The Academy shall be operated for the
purposes of--
``(1) identifying the proper role for the military in a
democratic society; and
``(2) improving civil-military relations and civilian
control over military matters in Latin American countries and
Caribbean countries.
``(c) Instruction at Academy.--
``(1) Areas of instruction.--Instruction at the Academy
shall be provided to civilian and military personnel of Latin
American countries and Caribbean countries, through seminars,
roundtable discussions, conferences, and a guest instructor
program, in the following areas:
``(A) The principles of respect for democracy,
human rights, and civilian control of the military in a
democratic society.
``(B) Mechanisms and skills necessary for the
exercise of civilian control and oversight over the
mission, structure, and operations of security forces.
``(C) Mechanisms and procedures for ensuring
accountability within the armed forces and for
institutionalizing within the armed forces rules of
engagement and an approach to the conduct of military
operations in accordance with recognized principles of
international law and human rights.
``(D) Mechanisms and skills necessary for the
exercise of civilian control and oversight over budgets
of security forces.
``(E) Mechanisms and skills necessary for the
exercise of civilian control over, and merit based
procedures in, promotions in security forces.
``(F) Mechanisms and skills necessary for the
exercise of civilian control over, and clear human
rights guidelines for, intelligence operations of
security forces.
``(G) Mechanisms and skills necessary to establish
and operate military justice and disciplinary systems
in accordance with international human rights
procedures.
``(H) Mechanisms and skills necessary to ensure
professional resource and personnel management in
security forces.
``(I) Mechanisms and skills necessary to ensure
civilian control and oversight over security force
involvement in the civilian economy.
``(J) Principles of multilateral cooperation in
internationally sanctioned peacekeeping operations.
``(K) Strategies for cooperative threat reduction,
including diplomatic approaches to addressing border
disputes, defensive configuration of armed forces, and
full compliance with the United Nations Register of
Conventional Arms.
``(L) Additional strategies designed to achieve
responsible reductions in military spending so that
resources may be used to promote development in Latin
American countries and Caribbean countries.
``(2) Combat and lethal skills training.--Combat and lethal
skills training shall not be offered as part of the curriculum
of the Academy.
``(3) Course catalogue and curriculum.--The course
catalogue and curriculum of the Academy shall be available for
public inspection.
``(d) Screening of Instructors and Students.--The Secretary of the
Army, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall conduct a
thorough screening of potential instructors and students at the Academy
and ensure that they exhibit the highest level of commitment to and
respect for democracy and human rights. The instructors of the Academy
shall consist of civilians and military personnel. Every course and
program at the Academy shall involve civilians, including civilian
personnel in defense establishments, elected officials and civil
servants, and representatives of human rights and other civic
organizations. The number of civilians attending the Academy should be
at least 20 percent of the total number of students, with the goal of
reaching 50 percent within five years after the establishment of the
Academy.
``(e) Advisory Committee.--The Secretary of the Army, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish an advisory
committee to provide advice on establishing and operating the Academy
and the content of the curriculum. The advisory committee shall be
comprised of five members from civilian life and shall include
representatives of human rights organizations based in the United
States and in Latin American and Caribbean countries with widely
recognized expertise in investigating violations of human rights
violations in those countries. The Advisory Committee shall approve all
instructors of the Academy.
``(f) Human Rights Violators.--If it becomes known to the Secretary
of State that persons who have attended the Academy have violated human
rights, then the Secretary shall determine whether elements of the
curriculum of the Academy are inconsistent with the purposes of the
Academy.
``(g) Funding.--The cost of operating and maintaining the Academy
may be paid from funds available under chapter 5 of part II of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347) (related to
international military education and training assistance).''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 407 of such title is amended--
(1) by striking the item relating to section 4415; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 4414
the following new item:
``4416. United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-Military
Relations''.
SEC. 3. COUNTERMINE PROGRAMS.
Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be
interpreted to affect the authority to conduct countermine programs at
other facilities at Fort Benning, Georgia, being carried out on the
date of enactment of this Act at the School of the Americas in response
to a request from the Organization of American States.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
After the United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-Military
Relations, established pursuant to section 4416 of title 10, United
States Code, has been in operation for a period of two years, the
Secretary of the Army shall submit to Congress a report on the
achievements of the Academy, and on the desirability and feasibility of
opening its courses and programs to attendees from outside of Latin
America countries and Caribbean countries.
SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that resources made available to
operate the United States Academy for Democracy and Civil-Military
Relations, established pursuant to section 4416 of title 10, United
States Code, should be commensurate with the total resources that were
dedicated to the United States School of the Americas in fiscal year
1996.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on
October 1, 1996.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on National Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on National Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on National Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
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