[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 775 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 775

    Expressing appreciation to Portugal for accepting two detainees 
                  released from Guantanamo Bay prison.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2009

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing appreciation to Portugal for accepting two detainees 
                  released from Guantanamo Bay prison.

Whereas President Barack Obama has vowed to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay 
        in January 2010, necessitating the release or transfer of about 225 
        persons 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 settling detainees into the United States or transferring detainees 
        to prisons in the United States;
Whereas the United States, must ensure, in compliance with international humans 
        rights law, including the Convention Against Torture, that detainees 
        will not be transferred to nations where their safety will be 
        jeopardized;
Whereas in December 2008, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado announced in a 
        public letter to European Union officials that Portugal was ready to 
        help the United States resettle released detainees;
Whereas Portugal became the first country to publicly state its willingness to 
        take Guantanamo detainees other than their own residents or nationals;
Whereas in late August 2009, Portugal accepted the transfer of 2 Syrian 
        detainees who had been cleared for release by the United States 
        Government; and
Whereas according to Portuguese Government officials, the two men are not 
        subject to any charge, and have been provided homes by the country to 
        live freely: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its appreciation to Portugal for accepting 2 
        men released from the prison at Guantanamo Bay;
            (2) encourages Portugal to ensure that the two former 
        detainees are able to participate as fully as possible in their 
        local community and in Portuguese society; and
            (3) heralds the Portuguese Government for safely, humanely, 
        and effectively resettling detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 
        who have been cleared of wrongdoing.
                                 <all>