Senator Carper Responds to President’s Call to Close Guantanamo Bay Prison

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement of a plan to close Guantanamo Bay prison:

“The President’s announcement today is an important step for the United States to regain the moral high ground and show the world that we can prosecute terrorists and protect our national security while retaining our nation’s core values. Closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay is also a symbolic move that would take away a key recruiting tool terrorists use in their propaganda. Moreover, the decision makes fiscal sense. As the President noted, it would save as much as $85 million in taxpayer dollars that could be put toward fighting the message of ISIS and others – instead of feeding into it. I urge my colleagues to support this plan and move forward with its consideration.”