Garamendi Joins Reps. Adam Smith, Justin Amash, Ron Paul at Press Conference in Defense of Due Process, Urges Rules Committee to Let Amendment Have Floor Vote

Press Release

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, today joined Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), Congressman Justin Amash (R-MI), and Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) at a press conference in support of the bipartisan Smith-Amash-Garamendi-Berman amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to protect our due process rights. The amendment explicitly clarifies the view of Congress that no one detained on U.S. soil can be indefinitely detained and that every person deserves access to a lawyer and a fair judicial process.

Congressman Garamendi then appeared before the House Rules Committee urging the committee to allow the bipartisan due process amendment to have an up or down vote on the House floor.

"It doesn't matter which side of the aisle you are on, civil liberties are essential to everyone. As authors of this great nation's laws, Congress must tread carefully when our fundamental, constitutional rights are at stake," Congressman Garamendi explained in written testimony submitted to the committee. "When writing laws that will affect individual liberties, we must speak clearly and with an unwavering voice -- there is no room for ambiguity or uncertainty."

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