For Immediate Release: December 9, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) released the below statement on the defense budget bill for fiscal year 2012 that the Senate passed last Thursday (S. 1867), which contains sweeping provisions, including authority for the President to hold terrorism suspects without charge or trial in military custody. President Barack Obama and his national security team have come out in opposition to the Senate language, and President Obama has threatened to veto the bill if it is passed by Congress unless these provisions are taken out. A vote on the bill is expected next week.

“I have heard from nearly a thousand of my constituents in opposition to the appalling language in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which contains sweeping provisions that allow the President to indefinitely lock up American citizens without charge or trial. History shows that acting on fear has dangerous and irreparable consequences on our nation – the illegal internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II is a prime example. I also reject the language in the bill that would severely restrict the transfer of detainees in Guantánamo Bay for any purpose, including trial in federal court. The Senate bill is un-American, unconstitutional and unnecessary. I urge my colleagues on the Senate and House Armed Services committees to strike out these abhorrent provisions in the final defense budget bill.”

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Follow McDermott on Twitter: @RepJimMcDermott.