The U.S. Senate voted 78-21 to apply the Army Field Manual standards on torture to all U.S. government personnel, including the Central Intelligence Agency. NAE President Leith Anderson sent a letter to senators earlier this month encouraging this vote. Part of that letter was read into the U.S. Senate record.

The measure, which is part of the defense authorization bill, will also need to be conferenced with the U.S. House of Representatives before it becomes law. The measure would not change current practice that bans torture by executive order, but it would prevent a future president from authorizing torture.

Senator John McCain read part of Anderson’s letter into the U.S. Senate record. Watch it below at 1:20.