WASHINGTON, DC- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, today expressed disappointment with the decision by the House Republicans to prevent a vote on his amendment to ban funding in the Intelligence Authorization Act for the extraordinary rendition program that facilitates the outsourcing of torture to foreign countries.  This decision comes on the same day that the European Parliament investigators announced that they have evidence that the C.I.A. rendition program had flown more than 1,000 flights through European airspace since 2001. Markey’s amendment would have generally restricted the use of diplomatic assurances – simply taking the word of foreign governments that no torture will take place, regardless of the country’s track record on this issue – as the basis for renditions of persons to countries that are known to use torture.

“My amendment would have restricted the use of funds for the morally repugnant practice known as ‘extraordinary rendition’ – the sending of detainees to countries such as Syria or Uzbekistan which are known to torture prisoners.  Once again, the Committee has decided to leave the backdoor open to torture,” said Rep. Markey.  Last year, the Rules Committee also refused a similar amendment to prevent the use of funds for torture outsourcing.

Today, European Parliament investigators announced that they have evidence that the C.I.A. rendition program had flown more than 1,000 flights through European airspace since 2001.

 “The C.I.A. is being accused of violating human rights law.  Congress has had many chances to investigate and stop the deplorable practice of torture outsourcing, but at every juncture the Republican majority refuses to take action.  Now other countries are holding the hearings that the Republican’s refuse to hold.  This is an embarrassment – the Bush Administration is neglecting human rights by signing up our prisoners for the Torture Express and shipping our detainees to the world’s worst prisons.” 

Rep. Markey is the author of H.R. 952, the “Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act”, which currently has 67 cosponsors.  For more information on Representative Markey’s work to end the practice of shipping prisoners to countries known to torture, check out: http://markey.house.gov/