Reply #37: Approved by the Senate, now on its way to the House, then to bush to sign.

[Sapphire Blue]

Congress Bans Harsh Treatment of Suspects

(Excerpt)

The detainee provisions also were included in a separate $453 billion defense spending bill. On Wednesday, the Senate passed that measure, which includes $50 billion more for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but only after stripping out a provision that would have allowed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Because of the change, the House needs to sign off on the final version of the spending measure - expected Thursday - before it goes to the president for his signature.

The detainee provisions prohibit "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'' of anyone in U.S. government custody anywhere in the world. They also require that service members follow procedures in the Army Field Manual during interrogations of prisoners.

In addition, the measure narrows a 2004 Supreme Court ruling that gave Guantanamo detainees the right to fight the legality of their detentions in any federal court. Instead, the bill limits their ability to appeal their detention status and punishments to a federal appeals court in Washington.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5796610.html