Title: Expressing the opposition of the House of Representatives of providing the vaccination for COVID-19 for detainees at the detention facility at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before American citizens receive such vaccination.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution expresses the opposition of the House of Representatives to any plans by the Department of Defense to deliver COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines to prisoners held at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, until all Americans have had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Additionally, the resolution asserts that the government should prioritize U.S. citizens for COVID-19 vaccinations.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 81 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 81

Expressing the opposition of the House of Representatives of providing 
the vaccination for COVID-19 for detainees at the detention facility at 
  United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before American 
                   citizens receive such vaccination.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 1, 2021

Ms. Stefanik (for herself, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Babin, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. 
 McCaul, Mr. Comer, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Baird, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. 
 Bacon, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Roy, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Crawford, 
Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Sessions, Ms. Herrell, Mrs. 
Boebert, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Cline, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Good of Virginia, Mr. 
  Keller, Mr. Mann, Mr. Gooden of Texas, Mr. Kustoff, Mrs. Lesko, Mr. 
  Brooks, Mr. Murphy of North Carolina, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Zeldin, Mr. 
  Bishop of North Carolina, Mr. Steil, Mr. Norman, Mr. Davidson, Mr. 
Williams of Texas, Ms. Malliotakis, and Mrs. Harshbarger) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
  Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the opposition of the House of Representatives of providing 
the vaccination for COVID-19 for detainees at the detention facility at 
  United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before American 
                   citizens receive such vaccination.

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred 
        to in this resolution as the ``CDC''), there have been nearly 26,000,000 
        cases of COVID-19 reported in the United States as of January 31, 2021;
Whereas, according to the CDC, there have been over 400,000 deaths attributed to 
        COVID-19 in the United States as of January 31, 2021;
Whereas, according to the CDC, approximately 22,000,000 Americans, or about 7 
        percent of the United States population, have been vaccinated for COVID-
        19 as of January 27, 2021;
Whereas United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, commonly known as 
        ``Guantanamo'' or ``Gitmo'', has been used to house detainees 
        apprehended in the Global War on Terrorism since 2002;
Whereas, since 2002, Guantanamo has housed over 700 detainees apprehended 
        throughout the world as a result of the United States counterterrorism 
        and law enforcement operations during the Global War on Terrorism;
Whereas the suspected mastermind behind the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
        2001, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, has been detained at Guantanamo since 
        2006;
Whereas, according to an article published on January 30, 2021, there are 
        approximately 40 detainees remaining at Guantanamo;
Whereas, on January 27, 2021, the Department of Defense ordered the delivery of 
        COVID-19 vaccines to the remaining detainees held at Guantanamo; and
Whereas, on January 30, 2021, the Department of Defense announced it would be 
        pausing plans to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Guantanamo detainees: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) opposes any plans by the Department of Defense to 
        deliver COVID-19 vaccines to prisoners held at United States 
        Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and detained during 
        operations conducted during the Global War on Terrorism until 
        all Americans have had the opportunity to be vaccinated; and
            (2) asserts that efforts by the United States Government to 
        provide vaccinations for COVID-19 should prioritize United 
        States citizens.
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