SB 104-17: Guantanamo Bay Prison Closure Act (Passed)

[Joseph Cao]

Is there any evidence that Cuba wants Guantánamo Bay returned? Setting aside that naval stations are still a valuable asset, this seems like the kind of decision that could have inadvertent side effects.

We could simply demolish the prison or lease it out or something if that is the offending factor here, although I vaguely recall that it is no longer used as such by the Atlasian government.

[Joseph Cao]

The issue of human rights abuses can be addressed directly by closing the prison. Whether Cuba wants Guantanamo Bay is something to discuss either at the negotiating table with them or in a separate bill, and while I personally don't favor that decision it may not necessarily be ours alone to make. Either way, closing the prison is still going to necessitate a lot of work in reviewing prisoners' histories and transferring them to appropriate facilities, and any bill to shut the prison down is going to have to allow for that at least.

I may introduce an amendment or something depending on what you all think of it.

[Joseph Cao]

I think my concerns with the initial version of the bill have largely been satisfied. Aye.