Scott Pleased New NDAA Continues Important Policy to Prevent Guantanamo Bay’s Closure

Charleston – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) released the below statement following approval of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) by a vote of 23-3. The bill, which now goes to the full U.S. Senate for consideration, includes several provisions related to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.

“The overwhelmingly bipartisan passage of the National Defense Authorization Act by the Senate Armed Services Committee is an important reminder to this administration that the U.S. Congress has spoken clearly on the issue of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. There remains strong bipartisan support to keep the facility open, fully utilize it to detain terrorists and prevent the administration from continuing to release dangerous individuals to other countries where they can rejoin the fight,” said Senator Tim Scott, a vocal opponent of closing the facility. “Now more than ever, the prison at Guantanamois needed as our country and world face new threats from dangerous groups and individuals bent on harming our homeland.”

The NDAA extends prohibitions related to Guantanamo Bay previously enacted by Congress, including

• Extending the prohibition on the use of funds for transfer to the United States of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay.

• ?Extending the prohibition on the use of funds to construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from Guantanamo Bay.

• ?Extending the prohibition on the use of funds to transfer or release of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay to Libya, Somalia, Syria, or Yemen.

• ?Extending the prohibition on the use of funds for realignment of forces at or closure of United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

• ?Greater transparency on detainees that the United States transfers.

Senator Scott joined Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to introduce the Detaining Terrorists to Protect Americans Act, which bars the President from transferring any detainee to any foreign country and continues a current prohibition on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay facility as well as any attempt to transfer detainees to domestic sites.Senator Scott also joined Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to introduce Senate Resolution 396, calling on the President to detain ISIS fighters at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.