Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) returned Monday night from a congressional fact-finding trip to U.S. military facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Due to House Armed Services Committee security protocol, Larsen was unable to notify the public in advance of his trip. Photos from the trip will be available on request.

“During my visit to the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, I visited the detention facilities where suspected terrorists are held. In my opinion, these facilities are well-maintained and staffed by highly professional service men and women. These facilities are also visited regularly by international humanitarian organizations,” said Larsen. “I thank our service men and women stationed at Guantanamo Bay for their service to our country.”

Larsen’s visit to Guantanamo Bay took place as the House and Senate Armed Services Committee consider changes to the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which was passed by Congress after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the President did not have the executive authority to establish military commissions without congressional approval.

The Military Commissions Act has not withstood judicial scrutiny.  The Supreme Court has ruled portions of it unconstitutional, and it imposes restrictions on military attorneys that make credible convictions virtually impossible. While the Military Commissions Act has been on the book for three years it has only achieved three convictions.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am committed to reforming the Military Commissions Act so the President has a viable option to prosecute, under the laws of war, terrorist detainees and thereby deliver justice for the American people,” Larsen continued.

Larsen opposed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and is working with House Armed Services Committee colleagues to enact needed reforms. Larsen supports reforms to:

• Prohibit the use of statements obtained under cruel, inhumane or degrading conditions;
• Streamline the handling of classified evidence to expedite the resolution of trials;
• And restrict the use of unreliable hearsay evidence.
  

“I remain committed to closing the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay and bringing terrorists detained there to justice,” Larsen concluded. “The detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base have become a lightning rod and a symbol, rightly or wrongly, of our errors in the fight against terrorists. As long as they remain open, these detention facilities will undermine our strategic efforts to win hearts and minds among moderate Muslims around the world.”

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