Jerry Nadler

We cannot wait until a crisis to find out whether we are adequately prepared for a catastrophe.

Are we giving it that process, or are current processes adequate to that?

What process is necessary to determine whether someone is or is not, in fact, a combatant?

The Supreme Court has never authorized a statute of that nature, and I think would be contrary to due process and most of the values that the United States stands for.

I don't believe it does, because I believe that detention on the basis of dangerousness alone is unconstitutional.

The President does not have the authority to detain people on the basis of dangerousness.

In other words, we're going to divide the prisoners into different classifications.

I do not believe that detention purely on the basis of some assessment of dangerous is lawful under any law.

I would point out that the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2008 said, with regard to the Uyghurs, or with regard to one of them at least, quote. 'It is undisputed that petitioner is not a…

The gentleman will suspend. If the gentleman wants to comment, I will grant him a minute to comment.

I think that view of the applicability of the Constitution does not survive the Boumediene decision.

One question which arises immediately in view of the apparent Administration position, as stated yesterday by Department of Defense general counsel Jeh Johnson that we can hold indefinitely even people acquitted in the military tribunal…

Today the Subcommittee examines the military commission system and, more importantly, how we as a Nation can work together productively to clean up the terrible legacy of the Bush administration's detention policies in a manner that…

I think the purpose of this hearing is, regardless of the position of any Administration, to figure out what is right, not who is right.

The legislation goes exactly in the wrong direction, so much so that even President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Clinton are running away from it.

This issue is perhaps the most important issue, in my judgment, this Committee will face.

Claims of secrecy have been used to conceal matters from Congress even though Members have the security clearance necessary to be briefed.

The government simply cannot be allowed to hide behind unexamined claims of secrecy and become the final arbiter of its own conduct.

The natural tendency on the part of the executive branch to overstate claims of secrecy and to avoid disclosure whenever possible

Our experience has demonstrated the destructive impact that sweeping claims of privilege and secrecy can have on our Nation.

We clearly need to update our immigration policies to more efficiently promote family unification...

I want to thank my good friend Senator Dianne Feinstein, who introduced a private bill for Shirley.

This bill certainly should be made part of it. I will do my best to ensure that this is the case on the House side.

I heard your answer to Mr. Smith's question a moment ago about the Guantanamo detainees being released to the United States, but you were referring to terrorists released to be free in the United States, obviously, from the context of your…

We also have recently seen evidence of numerous mistakes and abuses by the FBI in using its NSL authority.