To restore the Constitution's checks and balances and protections against government abuses as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.

10/15/2007--Introduced.
American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 - Repeals the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Authorizes the President to establish military commissions for the trial of war crimes only in places of active hostilities against the United States where an immediate trial is necessary to preserve fresh evidence or to prevent local anarchy. Prohibits the President from detaining any individual indefinitely as an unlawful enemy combatant absent proof by substantial evidence that the individual has directly engaged in active hostilities against the United States. Prohibits the detention of any U.S. citizen as an unlawful enemy combatant. Entitles any individual detained as an enemy combatant by the United States to petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Prohibits any civilian or military tribunal of the United States from admitting as evidence statements extracted from the defendant by torture or coercion. Prohibits any federal agency from gathering foreign intelligence in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Subordinates the President's constitutional power to gather foreign intelligence to such prohibition. Gives the House of Representatives and Senate standing to file a declatory judgment action in an appropriate federal district court to challenge the constitutionality of a presidential signing statement that declares the president's intent to disregard provisions of a bill he has signed into law because he believes they are unconstitutional. Prohibits any U.S. officer or agent from kidnapping, imprisoning, or torturing any person abroad based soley on the president's belief that the subject of the action is a criminal or enemy combatant. Allows kidnapping if undertaken with the intent of bringing the kidnapped person for prosecution or interrogation to gather intelligence before a tribunal that meets international standards of fairness and due process. Provides that nothing in the Espionage Act of 1917 shall prohibit a journalist from publishing information received from the executive branch or Congress unless the publication would cause direct, immediate, and irreparable harm to U.S. national security. Prohibits the use of secret evidence by the President or any other member of the executive branch to designate an individual or organization with a U.S. presence as a foreign terrorist or foreign terrorist organization for purposes of the criminal law or civil sanctions.

... morehide bill summarySee Full Bill Text

Sponsor

• Rep. Ronald Paul [R, TX-14]
• and 2 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]
  • Rep. Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
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Committees

• House Judiciary
• 4 more
  • House Armed Services
  • House Intelligence (Permanent Select)
  • House Foreign Affairs
  • House Judiciary
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.3835

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
October 15, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Nov 02, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
• Oct 15, 2007: Referred to House Intelligence (Permanent Select)
• Oct 15, 2007: Referred to House Foreign Affairs
• Oct 15, 2007: Referred to House Armed Services
• Oct 15, 2007: Referred to House Judiciary
• Oct 15, 2007: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• Oct 15, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2136-2137)
• Introduced on Oct 15, 2007.

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Related Issue Areas:

• Warrants (Law)
• War crimes
• War and emergency powers
• Torture
• 41 more
• Terrorism
• Rule of law
• Reporters and reporting
• Prosecution
• Presidents
• President and foreign policy
• Politics and government
• Police questioning
• Parties to actions
• National security
• Kidnapping
• Journalism
• International affairs
• Intelligence activities
• Injunctions
• Information leaking
• Imprisonment
• Habeas corpus
• Foreign policy
• Fines (Penalties)
• Executive departments
• Evidence (Law)
• Electronic surveillance
• Due process of law
• Detention of persons
• Defense policy
• Criminal procedure
• Criminal justice
• Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
• Constitutional law
• Constitution
• Congressional-executive relations
• Congressional oversight
• Congress and military policy
• Congress and foreign policy
• Communications
• Citizenship
• Armed forces
• Anarchism
• Actions and defenses
• Law

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In the News

November 02, 2007 Global warming not behind disasters; go nuclear now

... should contact their representative immediately and urge support for Ron Paul's legislation, HR 3835, the American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007. Rep. ...

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October 31, 2007 Restoring Rights

Claiming to be among the “conscious,” we hereby provide a serious look at HR 3835, the American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007. It was introduced in the House ...

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October 29, 2007 WHY HR 1995 WAS RAMMED THROUGH UNDER COVER OF FIRE

HR 3835: The American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 which will restore habeas corpus by repealing the Military Commissions Act of 2006. H. Con. Res. ...

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Blog Coverage

January 04, 2009 Hearing on Executive Power - Rep. Walter Jones Testifies | A site ...

Support HR 3835 American Freedom Agenda Act 2007. bitherwack Said,. I’m sorry, Patient, … I’m sorry, Patient, but I have to disagree. You should have seen Conyers at the Ashcroft hearing. He was really critical. ...

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December 29, 2008 OLI - Vote for administration

NAY !!! I will also rise to the occassion in delight, to forward the motion to re introduction HR 3835. Ohhh shucks naw, is this a Democratic Parliament or the house floor in a Republic ? LMAO. Too funny. ...

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December 19, 2008 The Constitution Revolution: Restore Real Freedom Not Some Form of ...

Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced the American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 (H.R. 3835) way back on On October 15, 2007. This important piece of legislation would reverse many of the Constitutional abuses that have occurred over ...

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