Pete Hoekstra

Razor Wire

Washington, Nov 18, 2009 - U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, today introduced a discharge petition to compel House leadership to allow a vote on H. R. 2294, the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act. Hoekstra, along with House Republican Leader John Boehner and other top committee Republicans introduced the measure, which has garnered the support of 169 members of Congress.

"We are rapidly approaching President Obama’s self-imposed deadline for closing Guantanamo Bay, yet the administration still has not submitted a plan for closure to Congress and has offered little in the way of transparency with lawmakers or the American people," Hoekstra said. "This petition is meant to force greater administration transparency with the public and to give federal and state lawmakers a voice in what many of us believe was a rushed and unnecessary decision to close Guantanamo Bay by the president."

The Keep Terrorists Out of America Act affirms Congress’ opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility into the United States; prohibits the administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state’s governor and legislature; and prohibits the president from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States unless he provides notification and certification to Congress.

In Congress, a discharge petition is used to empower individual members to overcome legislative roadblocks and opposition to a bill by congressional leadership and committee chairs. A majority of members, 218, must sign the petition in order for it to be approved, at which point a bill can bypass committee and be brought directly to the floor for a vote.

"A number of Democrats agree that closing Guantanamo Bay and housing terrorist detainees on American soil is not a good idea and this petition gives them the opportunity to publicly register their opposition," Hoekstra said. "The American people need transparency on Guantanamo Bay and the threats posed by terrorists housed there, not the scattershot and disjointed decision-making behind closed doors by the administration and a few lawmakers who wish to avoid oversight and accountability.

"I absolutely believe that state leaders in places such as Michigan, Illinois and anywhere else the Obama administration may try to move terrorists detainees would benefit from full and transparent access to the threat and security information that is already known by the federal government. This is not just an economic decision as the administration portrays, this is a serious national security decision that should not be forced on states without providing them full situational awareness. If supporters of closing Guantanamo Bay really believe terrorist detainees pose no threat, then they should not fear our call for more transparency either."

Hoekstra also signed on to a letter from Republican leaders once again calling on President Obama to respond to questions on Guantanamo Bay that the administration so far has refused to answer.

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