Latin America Military Training Review Act

Bill: 113-hr-2989
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Introduced: 2013-08-02
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies

Congressional oversight

Educational facilities and institutions

Government studies and investigations

Higher education

Human rights

Latin America

Military assistance, sales, and agreements

Military education and training

Military personnel and dependents

Teaching, teachers, curricula
Latest action: action_date: 2013-08-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-08-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2989 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 2, 2013 Mr. McGovern (for himself, Mr. Lewis , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Fitzpatrick , Mr. Conyers , Mr. Michaud , Mr. Ellison , Mr. Grijalva , Ms. Moore , Ms. Edwards , Ms. McCollum , Mr. DeFazio , Ms. Clarke , Mr. Nadler , Mr. Honda , Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois , Ms. DeLauro , Mr. Clay , Ms. Lee of California , Ms. Eshoo , Mr. Bishop of New York , Mr. Farr , Ms. Waters , Mr. Welch , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Price of North Carolina , Mr. Blumenauer , Ms. Slaughter , Mr. Tonko , Mr. Payne , Mr. George Miller of California , Mr. Yarmuth , Ms. Wilson of Florida , Mr. Tierney , Mr. Serrano , Mr. McDermott , Mr. Polis , Mr. Rangel , Mr. Waxman , and Mr. Doggett ) 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Latin America Military Training Review Act . 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). 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. 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).