News
The Third District
Legislation
Committees
Photo Gallery
Staff
Congressional Services
Internships
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT: Adam Buckalew
PRINTABLE VERSION
HARPER APPLAUDS LAWMAKERS FOR STANDING FIRM ON GUANTANAMO BAY
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Gregg Harper (R–Miss.) praised House and Senate lawmakers for their overwhelming bipartisan vote in support of keeping the Guantanamo Bay detention facility open.
“I applaud lawmakers for rejecting President Obama’s request for funding to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” said Congressman Gregg Harper. “Closing this facility should not even be considered until the administration has a plan to safely detain, prosecute or transfer these detainees.”
On January 22, President Obama signed an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, which holds hundreds of the world’s most threatening terrorists, within one year. This decision fails to answer one fundamental question: What is our nation’s plan for dealing with these terrorists?
As a co-sponsor of the “Keep Terrorists Out of America Act,” Congressman Gregg Harper stands with the people of Mississippi in opposing the release of terrorists at Guantanamo or bringing them onto American soil. This legislation also makes clear that governors and state legislatures must pre-approve the transfer or release of any terrorist or detainee into America.
NOTE: On May 14, the U.S. House voted 368 – 60 and on May 20, the U.S. Senate voted 90 – 6 to refuse funding President Obama’s budget request to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
###
A conservative man of faith and integrity, Gregg was elected in November, 2008 to serve the citizens of Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Soon after the election, his peers elected him as the only freshman of the Republican Steering Committee in the House of Representatives. Gregg is the only Republican freshman appointed by Republican Minority Leader John Boehner to the Committee on House Administration and also sits on the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on the Budget. Gregg currently resides in Pearl with his wife of 29 years, Sidney, and their two children, Livingston and Maggie, where the Harpers are active members of Crossgates Baptist church.
