Dear Friends,

Each year Congress passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes the Department of Defense to conduct its various activities. For more than a decade, Congress has included language in the NDAA that bars Guantanamo prison detainees from being transferred to the U.S. for any reason – even for trial or for necessary medical treatment. This year, however, the House of Representatives passed a "clean" version of the NDAA that does not include that language. Instead, the House bill would allow Guantanamo detainees to leave the prison and be transferred to the U.S. for medical treatment or to be tried in U.S. courts. 

Please write to your Members of Congress and tell them that you support allowing Guantanamo detainees to be transferred to the U.S. and that you want them to pass a "clean" NDAA.

Unfortunately this year’s Senate version of the NDAA included restrictions on transfers. The House and Senate are currently negotiating a final joint version of the bill, and it is essential that the Senate negotiators agree that the House version of the NDAA is what is best for the nation and the 39 remaining detainees in Guantanamo.

Please write to your Members of Congress now. By writing now you can support those Members of Congress seeking a "clean" NDAA that will give President Biden the authority to move detainees out of Guantanamo for trial or medical treatment and eventually close the prison.

Thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

Matt Hawthorne
Policy Director