Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Congressman Harris’ Statement on President Obama’s Plan for Guantanamo Bay

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in response to President Obama’s proposal to release detainees from Guantanamo Bay:

“President Obama’s plan to close Guantanamo Bay and bring detainees to the United States is not only dangerous to our safety, it is illegal. With Americans believing that terrorism should be one of our top priorities, it is unconscionable that our President would willingly bring known terrorists into this country. Once again, President Obama is playing politics with the safety of our nation and putting American lives in danger.”

In November of 2015, Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, told the House Judiciary Committee that under current law, Guantanamo Bay detainees cannot be transferred to the United States. On November 25, 2015, President Obama signed the ‘‘National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016’’ into law. This law has a provision that prohibits the use of funds to transfer or release Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States. Congressman Harris voted for this bill in the House of Representatives on November 5, 2015.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016:

Subtitle D—Counterterrorism

SEC. 1031. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR TRANSFER OR RELEASE OF INDIVIDUALS DETAINED AT UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, TO THE UNITED STATES.

No amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense may be used during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2016, to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release to or within the United States, its territories, or possessions of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who— (1) is not a United States citizen or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (2) is or was held on or after January 20, 2009, at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by the Department of Defense.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just because it is against the law that doesn't mean he won't do it. He has gone against the law before.

Anonymous said...

Obama could care less.

Anonymous said...

The law means little to our leader.

Anonymous said...

2:33 Sorry, not my leader. And I know for a fact that many current and former military people do not consider him a Commander In Chief. Obama does not and never has supported our military.

Steve said...

Thank you Andy, for putting this into perspective for us. We support your efforts in this.