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U.S. Representative Massie Votes Against NDAA
“The NDAA is another example of legislation that Congress continues to pass without regard for our Constitution”
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Massie voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2014. The NDAA for 2012 established laws that authorized indefinite detention of citizens in the United States without trial. The NDAA for 2014 did not repeal or correct those provisions.
"The NDAA is another example of legislation that Congress continues to pass without regard for our Constitution. We achieved a small victory by amending the bill to require transparency in the event that Americans are detained. However I could not vote for passage of the final bill because it failed to protect basic rights to trial that are guaranteed by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to our Constitution," said Rep. Massie.
Congressman Massie cosponsored two amendments to the NDAA.
The first amendment, introduced by Reps. Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Adam Smith (D-WA), would have protected against indefinite detention without due process. This amendment failed with 200 yeas and 226 nays.
The second amendment, introduced by Rep. Radel (R-FL), will require the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress an annual report on US citizens subject to military detention. This provision will hold the executive branch accountable by shining light into the military detention process. This amendment passed by voice vote.
The NDAA itself passed the House, 315-108.
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