[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H4667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE CLOSING OF GUANTANAMO BAY

  (Ms. JENKINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JENKINS. Just days after taking the oath of office, President 
Obama signed an Executive order calling for the closure of the 
detention facility at Guantanamo Bay within 1 year. Since then, despite 
requests to the House Armed Services Committee, no congressional 
hearing has been held.
  I'm concerned that President Obama is willing to request $80 million 
in the fiscal year 2009 war supplemental to fund closing Guantanamo Bay 
but won't work with Congress on a strategy on where to transfer the 
detainees after closing it.
  As a Representative of Fort Leavenworth, which has been discussed as 
a potential relocation site for the Guantanamo detainees, I am very 
troubled that $50 million of the funds are earmarked for the relocation 
to an unknown site. Moving suspected terrorists to the United States 
will place an unnecessary risk on Americans. It's my priority to look 
out for the safety of the Leavenworth community, and I cannot in good 
conscience say to the people in and around Leavenworth that they would 
be secure with suspected terrorists nearby.
  If the President is serious about closing Guantanamo, he should work 
directly with Congress on a comprehensive plan.

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