IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 775 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

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.