[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H13010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GREAT LAKES GITMO?

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. Recently, the administration announced it may move up to 
215 al Qaeda terrorists to Illinois. This proposal imposes an 
unnecessary new risk. We should slow it down and answer some basic 
questions.
  The facility is only 22 miles from a nuclear reactor. What 
precautions are being taken? Commissions will be held in Illinois. How 
do we protect the families of jurors and prosecutors?
  Since the facility will replicate Gitmo's military administration, 
how will Great Lakes Gitmo improve American PR?
  Yesterday, we learned that two-thirds of the jobs claimed to be 
created will be active duty military. The Bureau of Prisons will hire 
no one over 37 years old and will hire nationwide, not just in 
Illinois.
  It's ironic that the administration promised $200 million to Palau to 
accept six terrorists--$33 million a terrorist. But for 215 terrorists, 
Illinois would only get $120 million--$500,000 a terrorist. That's 66 
times less than the rate paid to Palau.
  The people of Illinois deserve to know a lot more about this proposal 
and how it would affect our safety.

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