Sam Farr: “I applaud the passage of the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2017) and appreciate Representative…”

“I applaud the passage of the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2017) and appreciate Representative Smith's leadership on this important issue. This bill, if enacted into law and fully funded, will provide much needed assistance to victims of torture, both within the U.S. and internationally. But I am deeply disheartened that the good intentions of H.R. 2017 will be undercut by the Administration's refusal to unequivocally reject the use of torture not only for the military but also for the intelligence community. I do not naively believe that al-Qaeda or other Foreign Terrorist Organizations have any respect for the U.N. Convention Against Torture. But, the United States immediately loses the moral battle against terrorists when U.S. policy makes acceptations for torture, and disregards due process and the rule of law. Most importantly, ambiguity about U.S. policy on torture puts into jeopardy the lives of captured U.S. citizens, both military and civilian. It is time for the House of Representatives to embrace Senator McCain's anti-torture language and move on.”