Bill Text: MI HR0165 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress and the President of the United States to oppose relocating detainees held at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to facilities in Michigan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 25-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-10-13 - Referred To Committee On Judiciary [HR0165 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-HR0165-Introduced.html
Reps. Haveman, Meekhof, Hildenbrand, Schuitmaker, Agema, Elsenheimer, Amash, Genetski, Knollenberg, Bolger, Haines, Denby, Proos, McMillin, Paul Scott, Horn, Crawford, Wayne Schmidt, Daley, Ball, Moss, Rogers, Opsommer, Hansen and Kandrevas offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 165.
A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress and the President of the United States to oppose relocating detainees held at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to facilities in Michigan.
Whereas, The decision to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where over 200 terrorists and suspected terrorists captured since the September 11, 2001 attacks are held, is a decision that could increase potential risks to Americans; and
Whereas, Concern exists that any negative public perception of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay will be transferred to any new facility that is used to hold the detainees, including those in the United States; and
Whereas, Perhaps capitalizing on the perceived need of many Michiganians who have watched our unemployment rate exceed 15 percent, Michigan has been put forward as a possible location for housing Guantanamo Bay detainees. A federal facility, it is hoped, could salvage some of the jobs we are losing due to state Department of Corrections prison closings. Making such an important decision that will affect the selected community and Michigan for years or decades to come based on today's unemployment rate ignores the potential ongoing national security consequences of such a decision. Any analysis of costs and benefits must look beyond this fiscal year and consider the risks our people could face for years to come; and
Whereas, The security risk that we would confront for years stems from the fact that these detainees have been determined by the Department of Defense to be unsuitable for release, and there is evidence that they have been trained by al-Qaeda in terrorist tactics, interrogation resistance, and evasion. These detainees may be part of a movement that has already, including the September 11 attacks and bombings in Madrid, Bali, London, and many other places, demonstrated that civilians are just another target to be attacked to further their twisted goals. Not mere hardened criminals, these detainees from the war on terror continue to think of themselves as warriors who would kill again; and
Whereas, The federal government has refused reasonable requests to provide additional information, including classified assessments, to state and local officials who have responsibility for ensuring the public interest and safety of the State of Michigan. The federal government also has refused to allow state and local officials to conduct an oversight visit of the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay to allow state leaders to assess firsthand the threats and challenges of housing Guantanamo detainees; and
Whereas, This facility and the surrounding community and local prison staff may face increased risk. Therefore, it is reckless to move prisoners from an isolated facility on the island of Cuba to a facility located in the heart of America; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress and the President of the United States to oppose relocating detainees held at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to facilities in Michigan; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
