A bill to close the United States Army School of the Americas.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 22, 1999

Directs the Secretary of the Army to close the military education and training facility known as the United States Army School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia. Repeals current statutory authority for the School. Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in each training activity undertaken by the United States with foreign security forces, the Secretary of Defense should: (1) substantially increase emphasis upon respect for human rights, the proper role of a military within a democratic society, and appropriate management of defense and security policy; and (2) implement Department of Defense regulations regarding the screening of foreign candidates for inclusion in the training activity to ensure that the United States does not train individuals implicated in human rights abuses, illegal drug trafficking, or corruption.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] · D–IL

Committees

Armed Services Committee

15 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 22, 1999
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Apr 22, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4131-4133)
Apr 22, 1999
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 22, 1999 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.873 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.873, 106th Congress: A bill to close the United States Army School of the Americas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/873

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s873/BILLS-106s873is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T17:08:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.873 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.873 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.873, 106th Congress: A bill to close the United States Army School of the Americas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/873

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s873/BILLS-106s873is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T17:08:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.873 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.873 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.873, 106th Congress: A bill to close the United States Army School of the Americas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/873

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s873/BILLS-106s873is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T17:08:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.873 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.873 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.873, 106th Congress: A bill to close the United States Army School of the Americas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/873

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s873/BILLS-106s873is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T17:08:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.873 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.