Congressman Ander Crenshaw today (11/19) signed a discharge petition to compel the House Democratic Leadership to bring the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act (HR 2294) to an immediate vote and provide transparency to Congress and the American people over plans to close Guantanamo Bay prison.
"The Obama Administration has yet to submit a plan for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison, leaving Congress and the American people in the dark over plans on where these detainees will be housed in the future," said Crenshaw, who traveled to the facility on an official Congressional visit in May of 2008. "Transparency is needed and needed now. I strongly support immediate consideration of this bill so we can have a full and open discussion on an issue that goes to the heart of our national security. If the Administration and the Democratic leadership truly believe terrorist detainees pose no threat, then Congress should take this bill up immediately."
H.R. 2294, as introduced by Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), would:
* Affirm Congress's opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison into the United States;
* Prohibit the Obama Administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state's governor and legislature, and certification to Congress that strict requirements have been met; and
* Prohibit the president from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States without fulfilling strict congressional notification and certification requirements.
A discharge petition is used to empower individual Members of Congress to overcome legislative roadblocks and opposition to a bill by Congressional leadership and Committee Chairs. A majority of Members, 218, must sign the petition in order for it to be approved, at which point a bill can bypass committee and be brought directly to the floor for a vote. To date HR 2294 has 104 signatures, including Crenshaw.