Sen. Steve Daines of Montana is leading a new Republican campaign to block President Obama from fulfilling a campaign promise to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.
Daines introduced a bill Thursday that would ban the transfer or release of Guantanamo Bay detainees until either the end of this year or enactment of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. If passed, it would kill any chance the president has of closing the prison before leaving office.
Obama is expected to release up to 24 additional detainees from Guantanamo Bay this summer, according to a report.
“President Obama is prioritizing a campaign promise over his oath of office by releasing enemy combatants — even though several have returned to the battlefield,” Daines said in a statement. “This reckless and irrational plan will only entice our enemies instead of serving as a powerful deterrent.”
Eighty detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.
Last week, the House passed its version of the defense policy bill that requires an agreement between the U.S. and the foreign government that agrees to accept the detainee. It also requires the next administration to submit a plan to Congress outlining the strategy for handling wartime detainees.
Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., introduced companion legislation in the House this week. Sens. Jerry Moran, Tim Scott, and Pat Roberts, along with Reps. Ryan Zinke, Joe Wilson and Elise Stefanik co-sponsored the bill.
The Obama administration argues Guantanamo Bay needs to be closed because “it’s a recruiting tool for those who wish to do us harm,” according to White House spokesman Eric Schultz.
