Hartzler on President’s Misguided Guantanamo Announcement

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) today released the following statement responding to President Obama’s announcement of a plan to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba:

“It would be foolish to close Guantanamo.  Despite the President’s attempt to engineer a plan, the fact remains this facility is the best site for holding terrorists. It is a secure detainment facility away from our backyard and ensures those terrorists there do not return to the fight against us. As it has done consistently in bipartisan fashion in the past, I expect Congress to affirm the law and reject any attempt to close Guantanamo or transfer terrorist detainees to the United States.”

The President’s announcement comes on the same day as a former Guantanamo detainee was arrested in Spain as part of a jihadist cell seeking to recruit fighters for the Islamic State. The report can be found here.

Congresswoman Hartzler led a Congressional Delegation to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in February of 2015 to see first-hand the detainee operations, examine the facilities, and get information on the transfer of detainees from the facility.

Congresswoman Hartzler is the Chairwoman of House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and also serves on the House Agriculture and Budget Committees. She represents the people of Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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