FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2014
CONTACT: Benny Witkovsky, West End Strategy Team - (o) 202-776-7700, (c) 202-765-4290; Benny@westendstrategyteam.com
National Faith Group Releases Congressional Vote Scorecards on Torture
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund released Congressional Vote Scorecards today rating all members of Congress on their votes on torture-related legislation. The Scorecards show that a majority of Senators have voted against torture more than half the time, as have 193 members of the House. Shockingly, 25 U.S. Senators and 161 members of the House of Representatives have a score of 0 - which means that they consistently voted to support torture, indefinite detention without trial, the existence of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, and other human rights abuses.
Rev. Ron Stief, executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund (NRCAT-AF), responded to release of the Scorecards, saying: “Though torture is universally seen as immoral, if not criminal, 25 Senators and well over 100 members of the House consistently voted to allow torture, indefinite detention without trial, and other human rights abuses. Torture is in violation of fundamental American values and current U.S. policy governing the conduct of detention and interrogations. Congress should be united in rejecting human rights abuses, and we call on those members of Congress who have voted to allow torture to look to their faith and to their values before again casting votes in favor of human rights abuses.”
The Scorecards were compiled based on votes taken over the ten-year period following the release of the photos of torture and sexual assault at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and early reports of torture at CIA black sites around the world. NRCAT-AF scores members of Congress based on their votes on torture, Guantanamo, indefinite detention, and a number of other related issues. A score of 0 indicates that the member has consistently voted to allow torture, indefinite detention, or other violations of basic human rights. A score of 100 indicates that the member has consistently voted to respect the fundamental rights of all human beings.
The Congressional Vote Scorecards can be seen at www.nrcatactionfund.org/scorecards.
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund is a coalition of people of faith who oppose torture. It engages in public policy advocacy and electoral campaign work. It is a partner organization of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. Its website is www.nrcatactionfund.org.
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