[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 774 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 774

Expressing appreciation to Bermuda for accepting 4 individuals released 
  from the detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2009

   Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. 
Delahunt, and Mr. Wexler) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing appreciation to Bermuda for accepting 4 individuals released 
  from the detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Whereas President Barack Obama has vowed to close the detention facility at 
        Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 2010, necessitating the 
        release or transfer of about 225 individuals detained at the facility;
Whereas at least 50 detainees have thus far been cleared for release;
Whereas since President Obama took office about 15 detainees have left 
        Guantanamo and were resettled in Britain, France, Bermuda, Chad, Iraq, 
        Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Portugal, and 1 detainee was transferred 
        to the State of New York for a Federal trial;
Whereas there has been significant opposition in Congress and the wider public 
        to resettling detainees into the United States or transferring detainees 
        to prisons in the United States;
Whereas the United States, must ensure, in compliance with international human 
        rights law (including the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, 
        Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York on 
        December 10, 1984, and entered into force with respect to the United 
        States on November 20, 1994), that detainees will not be transferred to 
        nations where their safety will be jeopardized;
Whereas in May 2009, during a visit to the White House, Premier Ewart Brown of 
        Bermuda offered to assist the United States in relocating released 
        detainees from the detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, 
        Cuba;
Whereas in June 2009, Bermuda accepted 4 former prisoners, Chinese Uighurs who 
        had been cleared twice of being enemy combatants by the United States 
        Government and were cleared for release;
Whereas, since then, Congress has prohibited the use of Federal funds for 
        transfers and also requires a 2-week detailed notification before future 
        moves;
Whereas Bermuda provided the aircraft to fly the Uighurs to their new home;
Whereas the 4 Uighurs have been given temporary jobs tending the grounds of a 
        golf course in Port Royal, in an effort to integrate them into the 
        surrounding society: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its appreciation to Bermuda for accepting 4 
        Chinese Uighurs released from the detention facility at Naval 
        Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
            (2) encourages Bermuda to ensure that the 4 former 
        detainees are able to participate as fully as possible in their 
        local community and in Bermudan society; and
            (3) heralds Bermuda for safely, humanely, and effectively 
        resettling individuals detained at the detention facility at 
        Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who have been cleared of 
        wrongdoing.
                                 <all>