S. 551: Military Detainee Procedures Improvement Act of 2011

112th Congress · introduced 2011-03-10 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2011-03-10 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Military Detainee Procedures Improvement Act of 2011

Plain summary

Military Detainee Procedures Improvement Act of 2011 - Reaffirms that the United States is in an armed conflict with al Qaeda, the Taliban, and affiliated groups, and that the President is authorized to detain unprivileged enemy belligerents (belligerents) in connection with such conflict, regardless of the place of capture, until the termination of hostilities. Requires a belligerent to be held in military custody pending disposition under the law of war, which includes long-term detention or trial by military commission. Allows a waiver of such requirement if the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that the waiver is in the U.S. national security interests. Prohibits the use of funds available to the Department of Defense (DOD) to transfer any individual detained at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Guantanamo) to the custody or control of that individual's country of origin or any other foreign country or entity until 30 days after the Secretary certifies to Congress that, among other things, such country is not a designated state sponsor of terrorism and has agreed to ensure that such individual cannot take action to threaten the United States or its citizens or allies in the future. Prohibits the Secretary from making a transfer to a country or entity if there is a confirmed case of an individual who was detained at Guantanamo any time after September 11, 2001, was transferred to such country or entity, and subsequently engaged in any terrorist activity. Provides an exception to the latter prohibition for national security purposes. Prohibits the use of DOD funds to construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from Guantanamo. Amends the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 to require an annual review process regarding the detention at Guantanamo of suspected belligerents, requiring status recommendations to be made to the President by a panel of experts in military operations, intelligence, and anti-terrorism matters. Requires review considerations to include whether the individual represents a continuing threat to the United States or its allies and whether there are other factors that form a need for continued detention. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress procedures for determining the status of belligerents under U.S. custody or control who are captured after the date of enactment of this Act. Allows a guilty plea as part of a pre-trial agreement in capital offense trials by military commission. Expresses the sense of Congress concerning: (1) the the President's authority to use force, including lethal force, against nations, organizations, and individuals involved in terrorist attacks against the United States; and (2) appropriate justice for victims and families of those killed or injured in al Qaeda attacks against the United States.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Military Detainee Procedures Improvement Act of 2011

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112s551.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/s>

Record fed-us-cong112-s551 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112