Latin America Military Training Review Act - Directs the Secretary of the Army to suspend operation of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (Institute). Suspends the authority of the Secretary of Defense to operate such an education and training facility until submission of a report containing the results of an investigation in response to violations of human rights to which training at such Institute contributed.
Establishes: (1) a joint congressional task force to assess appropriate education and training for DOD to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations; and (2) a commission to investigate activities of the United States Army School of the Americas and its successor institution, the Institute.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3368 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3368
To suspend the authority for the Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation (the successor institution to the United States
Army School of the Americas) in the Department of Defense, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 4, 2011
Mr. McGovern (for himself, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Jackson of
Illinois, Mr. Holt, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Price
of North Carolina, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Capuano, Ms. Lee of
California, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Carnahan, Ms. Moore, Mr. Grijalva, Ms.
Schakowsky, Mr. Honda, Mr. Markey, Mr. Welch, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Farr,
Mr. Polis, and Mr. Nadler) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To suspend the authority for the Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation (the successor institution to the United States
Army School of the Americas) in the Department of Defense, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Latin America Military Training
Review Act''.
SEC. 2. SUSPENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE INSTITUTE FOR
SECURITY COOPERATION.
(a) Suspension of Institute.--The Secretary of the Army shall
suspend the operation of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation until the submission of the report under section 4(e).
(b) Suspension of Authority.--The authority of the Secretary of
Defense to operate an education and training facility under section
2166 of title 10, United States Code, is suspended until the submission
of the report under section 4(e).
(c) Limitation on Establishment of New Education and Training
Facility.--No training or education facility may be established in the
Department of Defense for Latin American military personnel (as a
successor to the United States Army School of the Americas, the Western
Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, or otherwise) until the
submission of the report under section 4(e).
SEC. 3. JOINT CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a joint congressional task
force to conduct an assessment of the kind of education and training
that is appropriate for the Department of Defense to provide to
military personnel of Latin American nations.
(b) Composition.--The task force shall be composed of eight Members
of Congress, of whom two each shall be designated by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of
Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the minority
leader of the Senate.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the task force shall submit to Congress a report
on the assessment conducted under subsection (a). The report shall
include--
(1) a critical assessment of courses, curriculum, and
procedures appropriate for education and training of military
personnel of Latin American nations; and
(2) an evaluation of the effect of such education and
training on the performance of Latin American military
personnel in the areas of human rights and adherence to
democratic principles and the rule of law.
(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Member'' includes a
Delegate to, or Resident Commissioner in, Congress.
SEC. 4. COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AT THE UNITED
STATES ARMY SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to
investigate the activities of the United States Army School of the
Americas and its successor institution, the Western Hemisphere
Institute for Security Cooperation.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Appointment.--The commission shall be composed of eight
members, of whom two each shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House
of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the
minority leader of the Senate.
(2) Qualifications.--Members of the commission shall be
selected from among individuals with knowledge and experience
in foreign military training and international human rights who
are not officers or employees of the Federal Government.
(3) Deadline for appointment.--The members of the
commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy of the commission shall not
affect the powers of the commission and shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(5) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--The Chairperson and
Vice Chairperson of the commission shall be elected by the
members.
(6) Compensation.--Members of the commission shall serve
without pay.
(7) Travel expenses.--Each member of the commission shall
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(c) Powers.--
(1) Hearings and sessions.--The commission may, for the
purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and
act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence
as the commission considers appropriate.
(2) Information from federal agencies.--The commission may
secure directly from any Federal department or agency such
information as the commission considers necessary to carry out
the provisions of this section. Upon request of the Chairperson
of the commission, the head of such department or agency shall
furnish such information to the commission.
(d) Investigation.--Not later than two years after the date on
which all members of the commission have been appointed, the commission
shall complete an investigation into the activities of the United
States Army School of the Americas and its successor institution, the
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. The
investigation shall--
(1) identify those individuals responsible for drafting or
approving manuals for use at either such institution advocating
tactics that violate international law or the laws of the
United States;
(2) determine how such manuals were used in training
conducted by either such institution;
(3) determine the effect of such training; and
(4) identify those individuals responsible for teaching
such tactics.
(e) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the completion of the
investigation under subsection (d), the commission shall submit to
Congress and the Secretary of Defense a report containing the results
of the investigation and recommendations for actions in response to any
violations of human rights to which training at the United States Army
School of the Americas or its successor institution, the Western
Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, contributed.
(f) Termination.--The commission shall terminate 30 days after the
date of the submission of the report under subsection (e).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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