U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., marks a win as his proposal to ensure the White House can’t close Guantanamo Bay was signed into law by President Barack Obama.
“Gitmo is a critical asset to our country’s national security, providing a persistent U.S. presence and immediate access to the region, as well as supporting a layered defense to secure the air and maritime approaches to the United States,” Jolly said on Monday. “The Naval Station plays an important role in fighting drug trafficking, providing humanitarian assistance during crises, and supporting other operations important to the U.S and neighboring countries.”
Jolly’s proposal to keep the Navy station at Guantanamo Bay open was part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed by Obama last week. Earlier in the year, Jolly successfully amended the Military Constructions and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill to ensure federal money is not used to close the base.
Running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, Jolly had been active on the issue throughout the year but he did note that his proposal did not touch on whether to hold captured terrorists at Guantanamo Bay.
“This section of the NDAA is wholly separate from the debate concerning the detention facility at the Naval Station and the status of detainees,” Jolly said on Monday. “Preservation of our assets in Cuba is just common sense. Again, there is no reason to relinquish a Department of Defense asset critical to our national security.”
While Jolly has supported Obama’s efforts to ease travel restricitons with Cuba, he has been a vocal supporter of keeping the base open and to leave the terrorist detention center there.
“The closing of Gitmo would only embolden the enemies of freedom who wish to do us harm,” Jolly said in the middle of August when buzz grew that Obama would close the terrorist detention center. “At a time when terrorism continues to spread throughout the world, we must remain resolved to defeat it.”
More than a decade after it was opened, the terrorist detainment center remains a point of debate. On Sunday, the Huffington Post published a 2013 memo from then U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton urging Obama close the facility. The memo was penned during her final days at the State Department. Clinton is the favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
