releases: http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=757
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=757 | Terrorists Should Not Tell Our Female Service Members How To Perform Their Duty | 2015-12-15 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | PA | Bill Shuster | S001154 | shuster.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter outlining concerns with female guards being prohibited from transporting detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Also leading the letter, which pressed Secretary Carter for any information regarding changes made to prison policies, were Representatives Martha McSally (R-AZ), Susan Davis (D-CA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Steve Russell (R-OK). In January 2015, a military judge issued an order that prohibited female guards from transporting detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The ruling was issued in response to complaints from five individuals accused of the most egregious acts of terror, who alleged that any contact with women violated their religious beliefs. This group includes Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the 9/11 mastermind who shares responsibility for the deaths of thousands of innocent American citizens. Terrorists locked up at Guantanamo Bay should not be dictating policies that prevent members of our armed forces from doing their job, said Representative Shuster. Women have been performing their duties admirably there since the arrival of the first detainees from Afghanistan in 2002, and we should reject this false compromise to Americas basic values. We must stand firmly by the basic tenets of our democracy, especially when it comes to the very individuals that have tried to destroy this nation. Numerous accommodations have been made for the religious beliefs of the accused by the military commission during pretrial proceedings, including breaks during court hearings to allow defendants to pray, access to the Quran, and halal-only meals in accordance with Muslim dietary restrictions forbidding pork. Currently, the judge is in the process of deciding whether the restriction of allowing female guards to touch or transport detainees should be made permanent. The additional signatories of the letter include: Reps: Adam Smith (D-WA),Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Tim Murphy (R-PA), Richard Nugent (R-FL), David Rouzer, (R-NC), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Brian Babin (R-TX), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Robert Brady (D-PA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Steve Knight (R-CA), Candice Miller (R-MI), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Lou Barletta (R-PA), Ryan Costello (R-PA), Paul Cook(R-CA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Steve Pearce (R-AR), Ed Royce (R-CA), Cresent Hardy (R-NV) , Keith Rothfus (R-PA), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Tom Marino (R-PA), Mike Coffman (R-CO), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Kristi Noem (R-SD), and Buddy Carter (R-GA). Text of Letter to Secretary Carter Dear Mr. Secretary, It has come to our attention that five high value detainees at Guantanamo Bay have petitioned to permanently restrict female service members from assignments related to their detention. We believe these positions should remain open to women, regardless of the religious beliefs of the detainees. Prohibiting women from these assignments discriminates against our troops and allows the enemies of the United States to dictate the terms on which American citizens serve their country. Women in uniform should not have to endure prejudice based on the convictions of enemy combatants, and male soldiers should not be forced to fill these deployments at a higher rate than necessary as a result. Women have served at Guantanamo Bay since the arrival of the first detainees from Afghanistan in 2002. They have demonstrated the same commitment to their duties as their male counterparts, and numerous other changes have already been made to accommodate the religious beliefs of those currently held at Guantanamo. While the United States should make certain allowances with respect to human rights, we must not compromise our basic principles at the behest of the very individuals who seek to destroy them. This case exemplifies the continued manipulation of our system to benefit terrorists directly responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent Americans. One of the five detainees, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, is the infamous mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. He was Al Qaedas chief propagandist, and continues to support that role through his legal actions at Guantanamo. Attempts to impose Mr. Mohammeds interpretation of religious law on Americas men and women in uniform must be unequivocally denied. We ask that you provide Congress with the current policy regarding assignments surrounding detainees at Guantanamo Bay. In your response, outline any changes that have been made to this policy since September 11, 2001. If any policy changes were to accommodate religious or cultural interests, please provide a detailed explanation of the rationale behind those changes. Finally, we impel you to ensure that female service members are not barred from continuing to serve in any capacity due to the requests of those detained for participating in terrorist attacks against the United States. Our policies reflect our values. We cannot allow our values to be compromised by prohibiting female soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen from certain assignments due to the objections of our enemies. We value all that our women in uniform do and have done to keep our nation safe, and must stand by our principles in this war of ideas. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |