Last week, Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) offered an amendment to the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 5136) that would prohibit the transfer or release of any prisoner at the United States Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States. Specifically, the amendment would make it illegal to use any funds in the defense appropriations bill to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release of such prisoners.

The amendment would also expand the investigation into theJohn Adam’s Project, a defunct effort by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to aid government attorneys. The ACLU lawyers showed photos of CIA officers to five high-profile detainees. The amendment would give the Department of Defense and the Inspector General more power to determine whether the ACLU attorneys broke the law.

The legislation has already been approved by the House of Representatives. Next, it will be taken up by the Senate for consideration.

Forbes_MTR_Transcript.pdfH.R. 5136.pdf