[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H2768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST PAY SECURITY COSTS FOR DETROIT TERROR TRIAL

  (Mrs. MILLER of Michigan asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, since the attempted terrorist 
attack on Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day, I have been arguing 
that the terrorist at Detroit Metro Airport that was arrested there is 
an unlawful enemy combatant who should be tried in a military 
commission.
  The decision to try this terrorist in civilian court, to give him the 
right to remain silent, as well as giving him three taxpayer-funded 
attorneys, is absolutely wrong, in my opinion.
  Mr. Speaker, as well, this trial will place undue costs and manpower 
burdens on the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan, neither of 
which is in a position to absorb additional security-related costs. It 
is wrong, Mr. Speaker, to ask hard-pressed communities, local 
communities, to pay these costs simply because we were the targets of 
this attack while we played no role in the decision to hold this trial 
in the City of Detroit.
  It was the decision of Eric Holder and the Federal Government to try 
this terrorist in civilian court in Detroit, so I think that the 
additional costs to local and State government should be borne by the 
Federal Government. The Department of Homeland Security must stand up 
and guarantee to fund any cost to the City of Detroit or the County of 
Wayne or the State of Michigan that they would not normally incur.

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