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Washington, D.C., December 18th – Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat, successfully retained his language in the conference report to amend the FY’08 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 1585) requiring the Secretary of Defense to develop and release to Congress plans for each detainee currently held at Guantanamo Bay, including the number expected to be prosecuted, released, and detained without prosecution.
“Guantanamo is a stain on our reputation as a nation -- governed by the rule of law -- that respects justice and democracy,” said Moran. “President Bush and Secretary Gates have stated they would like to see the detention facility closed, but so far inaction speaks louder than words. This amendment will give Congress a clearer picture what the administration’s intentions with Guantanamo are going forward.”
Under the Moran amendment, no less than 60 days after the bill is signed into law, the Secretary of Defense is required to submit to Congress a report identifying how many detainees they are planning to charge with a crime, transfer to their country of origin and continue to detain without prosecution for the near future.
The conference report has cleared both the House and Senate and is expected to be signed into law by the President.
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