A letter from Congressman Ken Calbert: " I urge you all to contact your congressman regarding the pending legislation and detainees at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba." Bob Dear Mr. Traister, Thank you for your correspondence regarding pending legislation and detainees at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I appreciate the opportunity to update you on the recent efforts to address this issue. As you may know, both houses of Congress have passed, and the President has signed, legislation addressing issues related to detainees at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and more broadly, hostilities against Al Qaeda. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of FY2013 detainee provisions confirm the detention authority that Congress implicitly granted the President via the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF, P.L. 107-40 ) in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The FY2013 NDAA, which passed into law with my support, prohibits the transfer of any and all detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay to the United States. This prohibition serves to prevent the Administration from bringing detainees to American soil for any reason. In addition, the law prevents the government from building or converting any structure in the United States to be used as a detention facility for detainees held there. Finally, the law places certain restrictions on the ability of the government to transfer any detainees from American custody to another country. These provisions are necessary and reasonable to protect American citizens and interests from any threat that may be posed by these individuals or other terrorist groups or countries working on their behalf. In a signing statement issued upon signing the NDAA on January 3, the President stated his opposition to the restrictions that Congress has lawfully placed on the Executive branch. This signing statement indicated that the President may choose to ignore the law and take certain actions to transfer inmates currently located at Guantanamo Bay to the continental United States or some other location. I wholeheartedly oppose this signing statement, and I disagree with the wrong-headed idea that the President can choose to ignore lawfully enacted legislation. Please be assured that I will continue to work on your behalf to determine and pursue policies in this area designed to best protect America and American citizens, and, when necessary, compel the Executive Branch to carry out those policies that have been duly enacted by Congress. Once again, thank you for your correspondence. I hope you will continue to contact me regarding issues of importance to you and your family. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit my website at calvert.house.gov and sign up for my weekly e-newsletters. For urgent updates on critical issues, follow me o n Twitter (@KenCalvert) and check out my Facebook page (Congressman Ken Calvert). Sincerely, KEN CALVERT Member of Congress
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:39:53 +0000
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