Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1960, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I'm here today, and I stand in support of the Smith amendment to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

Guantanamo Bay has become a symbol around the world for an America that has lost sight of its own cherished principles: due process, habeas corpus, and the rule of law.

I recently visited the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Seeing this camp made it clear to me that we cannot keep these detainees forever without charging them with crimes and giving them their day in court. It is not humane. It is not just. It is not American.

Some prisoners must go home; some must face trial; some prisoners will spend the rest of their lives in jail. In the end, though, we must close this chapter and ensure that justice is done. Guantanamo must close.

Keeping the Guantanamo camp open is a complete waste of taxpayers' money. The solution is to support Congressman Smith's amendment to close the Guantanamo detention center.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source