One of the least-effective members of Congress is also one of the most extreme proponents for Barack Obama’s dangerous Guantanamo Bay agenda.
Tammy Duckworth had no problem skipping work this week when she had the chance to stop a tax increase on middle class families and seniors. As NBC Chicago reports, Duckworth missed seven votes on Tuesday alone.
Yet, when the time comes to vote on critical measures aimed at preventing more Gitmo transfers, Congresswoman Duckworth drops everything to endanger the people of Illinois.
Exactly one month after the Obama administration approved its largest single release of Guantanamo detainees ever, Duckworth voted against legislation to prohibit funds from being used to transfer even more terrorists.
Duckworth’s vote this morning came just hours after she learned that in the first six months of 2016, two more freed Gitmo inmates rejoined terror groups – bringing the total up to nine since President Obama took office in 2009:
In the first six months of 2016, two more militants released from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have returned to fighting, the U.S. government said on Wednesday. Washington has confirmed that a total of nine people freed from Guantanamo have rejoined militant groups since President Barack Obama took office in 2009, according to a report issued on Tuesday by the Office of Director of National Intelligence, or ODNI.
Unfortunately, pushing "very hard" for Gitmo’s closure is one campaign promise that Duckworth actually followed through on.
WATCH: In 2012, Tammy Duckworth Promised To "Push Very Hard" For Guantanamo Bay’s Closure
[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy2DHn1nJ1A"]
How many more detainees released from Guantanamo Bay need to rejoin terrorist groups and return to fighting before Tammy Duckworth finally realizes that they don’t belong in Illinois?
TAMMY DUCKWORTH’S DANGEROUS VOTING RECORD ON GUANTANAMO BAY:
On September 15, 2016, Duckworth Voted Against H.R. 5351, Prohibiting The Transfer Of Individuals Detained At Guantanamo Bay Prison. (H.R. 5351, Roll Call Vote #520: Passed: 244-174, 9/15/16, Duckworth Voted Nay, Accessed 9/15/16)
- H.R. 5351 Would Prohibit Funds Being Used To Transfer Individuals Detained At Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Until January 1, 2017, Or The Enactment Of The FY2017 Defense Authorization Act. “This bill prohibits U.S. agency funds from being used until the earlier of the enactment date of an Act authorizing FY2017 appropriations for military activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) or January 1, 2017, for the transfer or release to or within the United States, its territories, or possessions or to any foreign country or entity of an individual detained at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. ‘Individual detained at Guantanamo’ means an individual located at Guantanamo as of October 1, 2009, who: (1) is not a U.S. national or a member of the Armed Forces, and (2) is in the custody or under the control of DOD or otherwise detained at Guantanamo.” (H.R. 5351, Library Of Congress, Introduced 5/26/16)
On June 16, 2016, Duckworth Voted Against The Lamborn Amendment To H.R. 5293, The FY 2017 Department Of Defense Appropriations, Which Would Prohibit Using Funds To Survey, Assess, Or Review An Alternative Site To Guantanamo Bay In The United States. “Lamborn, R-Colo., amendment that would prohibit use of funds by the Defense Department to survey, assess or review potential locations in the United States to house Guantanamo Bay detainees.” (Lamborn Amdt. No. 29 To H.R. 5293, Roll Call Vote 319: Passed 245-175, 6/16/16, Duckworth Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 6/27/16)
On May 18, 2016, Duckworth Voted For The Nadler Amendment No. 12 To H.R. 4909, The National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2017, Which Would Remove Prohibitions On Transferring Guantanamo Bay Detainees To The U.S. “Nadler, D-N.Y., amendment that would remove prohibitions on transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to or within the United States and on constructing or modifying facilities in the United States to house the detainees.” (Nadler Amendment No. 12 To H.R. 4909, Roll Call Vote #204: Failed 163-259, 5/18/16, Duckworth Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 6/26/16)
On June 10, 2015, Duckworth Voted For The First Nadler Amendment To H.R. 2685, Which Would Allow Funds For Constructing A Facility In The U.S. To House Guantanamo Bay Detainees. “Nadler, D-N.Y., amendment that would strike section 8101 of the bill, which bars funds from being used to construct, acquire or modify any facility in the United States, or its territories, to «house» Guantanamo Bay detainees for purposes of imprisonment.” (First Nadler Amendment To H.R. 2685, Roll Call Vote #337: Failed 173-259, R 4-240, D 169-19, 6/10/15, Duckworth Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 6/26/16)
- The First Nadler Amendment To H.R. 2685 Would Strike Section 8101, Which Prohibits Funds From Being “Used To Construct, Acquire Or Modify Any Facility In The U.S.” To House Detainees From Guantanamo Bay. “SEC. 8101. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this or any other Act may be used to construct, acquire, or modify any facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions to house any individual described in subsection (c) for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the effective control of the Department of Defense. (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any modification of facilities at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (c) An individual described in this subsection is any individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who—(1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (2) is—(A) in the custody or under the effective control of the Department of Defense; or (B) otherwise under detention at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.” (First Nadler Amendment, 6/8/15; H.R. 2685, 6/5/15)
On June 10, 2015, Duckworth Voted For The Second Nadler Amendment To H.R. 2685, Which Would Have Allowed Funds To Be Used For The Transfer Of Detainees At Guantanamo Bay. “Nadler, D-N.Y., amendment that would strike section 8102 of the bill, which bars funds from being used to transfer any individual detained at U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the custody or control of the individual’s home country or any other foreign country except in accordance with the fiscal 2014 defense authorization act.” (Second Nadler Amendment To H.R. 2685, Roll Call Vote #338: Failed 181-251, R 6-238, D 175-13, 6/10/15, Duckworth Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 6/26/16)
- The Second Nadler Amendment To H.R. 2685 Would Strike Section 8102, Which Prohibits Funds From Being “Used To Transfer Any Individual Detained At United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, To The Custody Or Control Of The Individual’s Country Of Origin” Except In Accordance With The 2014 NDAA. “SEC. 8102. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this Act may be used to transfer any individual detained at United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the custody or control of the individual’s country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity except in accordance with section 1035 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.” (Second Nadler Amendment, 6/8/15; H.R. 2685, 6/5/15)
On June 16, 2015, Duckworth Voted For The Schiff Amendment To H.R. 2596, The Intelligence Authorization Act For FY 2016. “Schiff, D-Calif., amendment that would strike four sections of the bill which add new restrictions to prevent the Obama Administration from closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp.” (Schiff Amendment To H.R. 2596, Roll Call Vote #367, Failed 176-246: R 5-235, D 171-11, 6/16/15, Duckworth Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 6/26/16)
- The Schiff Amendment To H.R. 2596 Struck Four Sections Of The Intelligence Authorization Act Which Place Restrictions On Detainee Transfers From Guantanamo Bay. “Schiff (D-CA), Smith, Adam (D-WA) – Amendment No. 6 – Strikes four sections of the bill which complement the restrictions on detainee transfers from Guantanamo Bay passed by the House in the National Defense Authorization Act and the Defense Appropriations Act preventing the Administration from closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.” (Schiff Amendment, 6/16/15; H.R. 2596, 6/9/15)
On June 19, 2014, Duckworth Voted Against An Amendment To The Department Of Defense Appropriations Act Of 2015 That Would Restrict The Transfer Or Release Of GITMO Detainees To Any Foreign Country. “Cotton, R-Ark., amendment that would bar the use of funds in the bill to release or transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to their country of origin or to any other foreign country.” (H.R. 4870 Cotton Amendment, Roll Call Vote #323: Passed 230-184: R 218-10, D 12-174, 6/19/14, Duckworth Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 6/26/16)
- The Cotton Amendment Effectively Prevented The Obama Administration From Releasing Guantanamo Bay Prisoners To Other Countries. “The House late Thursday night approved a proposal to prohibit federal dollars from being used for transfers of Guantanamo Bay detainees in light of the controversy over Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release. Rep. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) amendment to the 2015 Defense appropriations bill, adopted 230-184, would effectively prevent the Obama administration from releasing Guantanamo Bay prisoners to other countries.” (Cristina Marcos, “House Votes To Ban Gitmo Transfers,” The Hill’s Floor Action, 6/19/14)
On May 22, 2014, Duckworth Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Required The Closure Of Guantanamo Bay By December 31, 2016. “Smith, D-Wash., amendment that would require closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by Dec. 31, 2016.” (H.R. 4435, CQ Vote #233: Rejected in Committee of the Whole 177-247: R 6-224; D 171-23, 5/22/14, Duckworth Voted Yea)
The Obama Administration Considered Transferring The Guantanamo Detainees To A Prison In Thompson, Illinois. “In Mr. Obama’s first term, his national security team considered sending them to a high-security prison in Standish, Mich., or Thomson, Ill., before Congress prohibited transferring them onto domestic soil for any reason.” (Charlie Savage, “U.S. Report Addresses Concern Over Obama’s Plan To Close Guantánamo,” The New York Times, 5/15/14)