South Carolina General Assembly

118th Session, 2009-2010

S. 305

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution

Sponsors: Senators Cromer, Campsen, Bryant, Bright, Campbell, Peeler, Davis, Fair, Ryberg, L.Martin, McGill, Thomas, Grooms, Shoopman, Knotts, Rankin, Alexander and S.Martin

Document Path: l:\s-res\rwc\003gitm.kmm.rwc.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 27, 2009

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on General

Summary: Guantanamo Bay detention facilities

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

1/27/2009SenateIntroduced SJ14

1/27/2009SenateReferred to Committee on GeneralSJ14

1/29/2009SenatePolled out of committee GeneralSJ14

1/29/2009SenateCommittee report: Favorable GeneralSJ14

1/30/2009Scrivener's error corrected

2/18/2009SenateRecommitted to Committee on GeneralSJ19

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/27/2009

1/29/2009

1/30/2009

POLLED OUT OF COMMITTEE

MAJORITY FAVORABLE

January 29, 2009

S.305

Introduced by Senators Cromer, Campsen, Bryant, Bright, Campbell, Peeler, Davis, Fair, Ryberg, L.Martin, McGill, Thomas, Rose, Grooms, Shoopman, Knotts, Rankin and Alexander

S. Printed 1/29/09--S.[SEC 1/30/09 4:42 PM]

Read the first time January 27, 2009.

THE GENERAL COMMITTEE

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S.305) to request that President Barack Hussein Obama rescind his executive orders to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities so that the terrorists housed in the facilities can pose, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

Has polled the Concurrent Resolution out majority favorable.

[305-1]

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THAT PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA RESCIND HIS EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO CLOSE THE GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION FACILITIES SO THAT THE TERRORISTS HOUSED IN THE FACILITIES CAN POSE NO THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES OR THE WORLD AT LARGE AND TO REQUEST THAT DETAINEES NOT BE RELOCATED TO THE UNITED STATES NAVAL CONSOLIDATED BRIG IN CHARLESTON.

Whereas, the Guantanamo Bay detention centers have been used to house some of the most lethal terrorists in the world, terrorists that took the lives of innocent Americans, plotted continued atrocities, and posed an ongoing threat to the free people of the world; and

Whereas, in a July 25, 2007, assessment of five hundred sixteen detainees, the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point identified only six detainees posed no risk to the United States; and

Whereas, fourteen of the most dangerous, uniquely lethal terrorists in the world are currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, including 9/11 co-conspirators Khalid Sheik Muhammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, and Ammar ak-Bakuchi; and

Whereas, at least sixty released detainees have been killed or recaptured after taking up arms against allied forces in and around Afghanistan; and

Whereas, the New York Times reported on January 23rd that one former detainee, Said Ali al-Shihri, has emerged as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemini branch; and

Whereas, information gathered from detainees has been used to foil other terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world; and

Whereas, on January 22, 2009, President Barack Hussein Obama signed executive orders directing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities within one year and the immediate casebycase review of detainees still held at the facility; and

Whereas, it has been reported that the detainees at Guantanamo Bay may be relocated to the United States Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina; and

Whereas, Charleston is a densely populated urban center that is a tourist attraction to millions and home to a sprawling port that is vital to commerce and trade throughout the southeast. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities remain open so that the blood thirsty terrorists housed in the facilities can pose no threat to the United States or the world at large.

Be it further resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That relocating detainees to the Naval Consolidated Brig places hundreds of thousands of residents and millions of tourists directly at risk because Charleston is a densely populated center of commerce, trade, tourism, and home to a port vital to the southeast that would be vulnerable to terrorist attack.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to President Barack Hussein Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and the members of the South Carolina congressional delegation.

XX

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