Wittman Responds to President's Plan to Close Guantanamo Bay

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following statement today after President Barack Obama released his proposal to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility:

"The President's proposal is another indicator of the administration's lack of understanding regarding our nation's security needs. Congress and the American people do not support shipping known terrorists to American soil. The President's plan not only fails to account for security and legal ramifications associated with closing the GTMO detention facility, but the plan also does not address the policy and procedures for future terrorist detainees.

If even one American death is linked to the release of these terrorists, it will be a monumental policy failure. We have seen multiple accounts of released prisoners engaging in terrorist-related activities. The possible danger of closing the detention center can be illustrated by an arrest just today by Spanish and Moroccan police of a former GTMO detainee who was suspected to be involved in an ISIS recruiting cell. If GTMO is closed, the President's plan clearly states that dozens of current detainees could be transferred to facilities within the United States. Closing GTMO does not solve our national security concerns related to dangerous terrorists, it just brings them closer to home.

The President remarks that closing Guantanamo Bay is "about closing a chapter in our history." That chapter however is not yet closed. We cannot forget that as we remain at war in Afghanistan and continue to fight terrorism around the globe, our servicemen and women are still at risk."

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.

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