Buerkle: Amash Amendment Poses Threat to US

Washington, DC - Representative Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25) opposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 offered by Representative Justin Amash (MI-03) to grant constitutional rights to foreign terrorists captured on U.S. soil.

“The Amash amendment would have sacrificed our country’s national security in order to extend rights to foreign terrorists. Congress should be in the business of protecting the rights and security of American citizens, not foreign enemy combatants.

“The Amash amendment would have sent a dangerous message to our foreign enemies that we are willing to award them the same constitutional rights that belong to American citizens.

“Foreign terrorists captured on our soil must be properly investigated as national security threats, not paraded through our courts at the expense of taxpayers.  I will always fight to defend Americans’ constitutional rights, but I strongly disagree that we should extend those rights to foreign enemies.”

Representative Amash’s amendment was defeated in the House. The amended NDAA will be voted on by the House later this afternoon.