The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the Senate Tuesday and is now headed to the President for signature – again.
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Fifty sheriffs across Colorado have written to the White House to oppose any plan to move Guantanamo detainees to the state.
But the Pentagon has already toured federal and military facilities in Colorado, South Carolina, and Kansas that could serve as potential replacements for the Guantanamo Bay prison. That has raised the ire of lawmakers, especially those from the three states.
“Why in the world you would bring these enemy combatants to domestic soil is mind-boggling”.
The passage comes as Obama is expected to present to Congress a plan to close Guantanamo Bay in part by moving its 112 detainees to facilities on American shores. But so far, the White House has not threatened to veto the bill.
“My provision to strengthen the Stryker Brigade will not only sent a strong message to our allies in Europe, but also provided our forward deployed soldiers a critically important capability”, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) Portman said. Nevertheless, the option has not been taken off of the table.
Congress’ ability to block executive orders is limited, but Gardner on Monday said opponents could retaliate by holding up approval of presidential appointments. Lawmakers from states with prisons that would house the Guantanamo inmates are particularly incensed by the transfer plans, saying it would make them targets for attack. “Congress has done their job… they’ve spoken on Guantanamo. This is simply moving terrorists to the United States”, he said.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who favors closing the prison, said she thinks Obama has the power to close the facility through executive action. “I don’t think so”, he said, according to The Hill.
Last month, team from the Department of Defense toured the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City and the Supermax federal prison in Florence.
That was enough to calm most congressional opposition to the measure, which has been signed into law for 53 consecutive years. Coons predicted the bill “will soon be signed into law by President Obama”. The new deal calls for $607 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2016, which required a few trims in the second draft. Congress elected not to attempt an override of the veto, instead crafting a new bill that made $4.9 billion in spending tweaks.
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The bill also authorizes $300 million in lethal arms aid to the Ukrainian government fighting Russian separatists and, gives the White House the authority to provide $715 million to help Iraqi forces in their fight against Daesh.
