Democrats Block Amendments to Protect America

Press Release

Would have prohibited Defense bill funds from being used to transfer detainees, limited detainee transfers

U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey offered two amendments to the Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Authorization act that would have protected national security. The first would have prohibited funds from the bill from being used to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States. Congressman Gingrey's second amendment would have prevented detainees from being transferred to countries with any confirmed cases of recidivism. However, Democrats on the House Rules Committee blocked both amendments from receiving floor consideration.

"We must protect the American people and their families first, and using taxpayer dollars to transport or release terrorists to terror safe havens or bring them to U.S. soil puts our nation at risk for further attacks. Additionally, we simply cannot afford the hundreds of millions of dollars that it would take to close Guantanamo Bay and duplicate those facilities elsewhere," said Congressman Gingrey.

The first amendment Congressman Gingrey offered would have prohibited the funds authorized by the 2011 Defense Authorization from being used to pay for the housing or transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to any military installation or Federal detention center located in the United States. The Defense Authorization also includes language modeled after Congressman Gingrey's bill, H.R. 4464, the Prevent Terrorists from Reuniting with Terrorist Cells Act, which would prevent detainees from Guantanamo Bay from being transferred to state sponsors of terrorism or terrorist safe havens. However, the existing language gives the Secretary of Defense the authority to waive that provision in the interest of national security, which Congressman Gingrey's second amendment would have prevented. As recently as January, the Obama Administration transferred three individuals to Algeria, which was identified as a terrorist safe haven.

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