SCR17, As Adopted by Senate, August 19, 2009

            Substitute for Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 17

A concurrent resolution to memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to declassify intelligence information regarding Guantanamo Bay detention camp detainees and provide it to the Governor and Michigan State Legislature.

Whereas, President Barack Obama has issued an executive order mandating the closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay by January 22, 2010. Since the most horrific assault on our nation occurred on September 11, 2001, and the subsequent Global War on Terrorism began, the United States government has held international terrorists at the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities. At last count, 232 suspected terrorists are detained offshore on the 45-square-mile naval base where they await a determination to be made for their transfer, release, or prosecution; and

Whereas, Federal officials have toured a maximum-security prison facility in Standish, Michigan, which is slated to close by the end of the year, as a site under consideration to house trained terrorists who need to be relocated due to Guantanamo Bay’s closure. Bringing foreign terrorist detainees onto Michigan soil would undoubtedly pose a security threat to the correctional facility employees and their families, the state of Michigan, its residents and abundant resources, and our great nation; and

            Whereas, Should Michigan be mandated against its will to house individuals who actively engage in international terrorism, it is paramount that we be privy to the same intelligence information that the chair and ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence receive. Such intelligence information pertaining to the detained terrorists must be declassified and disclosed so that our state can take the greatest security measures possible to protect our citizens from those who have disdain and hatred for our democratic country; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to declassify intelligence information regarding Guantanamo Bay detention camp detainees and provide it to the Governor and Michigan State Legislature; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.