U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) today voted in support of legislation condemning the President for his actions in transferring the five Taliban officials.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires the President to notify Congress no later than 30 days before the transfer or release of terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay. The President failed to meet this obligation when he transferred five Taliban terrorists on May 31, 2014.

“Our men and women in uniform should be a top priority,” Luetkemeyer said. “The President cannot continue to circumvent Congress with his thoughtless actions and this resolution is the House of Representatives condemning and holding him accountable for the lawless way in which he transferred five Taliban terrorists. The Administration had plenty of time to notify Congress of the transfer to remain in compliance with the law, however, the President made the decision not to consult Congress. We cannot stand by and allow this President to continue to skirt the law.”

On August 21, 2014, the Government Accountability Office  released a report on the President’s compliance with statutory notification requirements. In that report, GAO stated that “In our view, the meaning of the law is clear and unambiguous.” The report reaffirms existing law by stating “Section 8111 [FY2014 NDAA] prohibits the use of ‘funds appropriated or otherwise made available’ in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014, to transfer any individual detained at Guantanamo Bay to the custody or control of a foreign entity’ except in accoradance with the FY2014 NDAA.”