[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REVITALIZING THOMSON, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DONALD A. MANZULLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 17, 2009

  Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the 
Administration's plan to link economic development in the district that 
I have the honor to represent to the transfer of dangerous terrorists 
from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  The hardworking people of northern Illinois have waited too long for 
the promise of economic stimulus and are looking for good paying 
employment opportunities. It is absolutely unnecessary to condition job 
creation with the wholesale importation of over 200 battle-hardened 
terrorists that could dampen long-term economic growth in that region.
  Today, I am introducing legislation to authorize the federal 
government to purchase the maximum security correctional facility 
located in Thomson, Illinois for the purpose of alleviating an already 
overcrowded federal penal system while prohibiting the transfer of 
terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. If passed, my 
legislation would bring good jobs to northern Illinois while keeping 
our communities safe. Thomson and the surrounding rural areas of 
Carroll County suffer from chronic high unemployment and population 
loss. Currently, Carroll County has an unemployment rate of 10.5 
percent. Thomson has an unemployment rate of 11.8 percent and has 
unfortunately experienced a negative population growth rate of 4.5 
percent since 2000. Fulfilling the promise of the Thomas Correctional 
Center will bring eagerly anticipated economic activity to the region.
  For years, I have been encouraging the State of Illinois to utilize 
this prison after so much was invested to build the facility. 
Unfortunately, my requests went unheeded. Now, we have a unique 
opportunity to help both the federal government with its need to reduce 
prison overcapacity and the local community with its need for economic 
development.
  The Federal Bureau of Prisons estimates that purchasing the facility 
near Thomson will cost approximately $120 million. My legislation 
provides sufficient flexibility in funding to purchase and transfer 
federal prisoners to this facility. However, the legislation 
specifically prohibits the federal government from housing any 
terrorist detainees currently at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, at this site or 
any other federal, state, or local facility in Illinois.
  Madam Speaker, the good people of Thomson and the rest of Illinois' 
16th Congressional District have waited too long for this government to 
fulfill its promise to ``save or create'' jobs. Given the overcrowding 
in America's prison system, let's use the Thomson correctional facility 
to house non-terrorist prisoners and create the jobs so vital for our 
families. Now is the time to stop linking job creation to the transfer 
of terrorist detainees and work towards a sensible compromise on this 
issue. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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