Thirty-seven House Republicans have co-sponsored a resolution to oppose any plan or procedures that would vaccinate prisoners at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba for COVID-19 before all Americans are offered the inoculations.
Reps. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, and Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., introduced the resolution Monday, two days after the Biden administration said it was "pausing" plans to vaccinate the 40 remaining detainees at the camp. The detention center houses those captured in the War on Terror following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.
The order to vaccinate the prisoners was signed Wednesday by President Joe Biden appointee Terry Adirim, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, a week after Inauguration Day.
"It is inexcusable and un-American that President Biden is prioritizing vaccines for terrorist detainees over American citizens, including veterans, first responders, 9/11 first responders, and seniors," Stefanik said in a statement on her website. "Every American should have access to vaccines before these heinous terrorists."
Among those being held at Guantanamo include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was considered the ''principal architect'' of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"It is appalling that under the Biden administration, terrorists held in GITMO were going to cut the line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of American citizens," Hinson said. "Meanwhile, thousands of Iowans, including frontline workers, first responders, teachers, and seniors are still waiting to receive the vaccine.
"It is infuriating that terrorists, including those responsible for the 9/11 attack, were put ahead of Iowans. This legislation calls on the administration to ensure American citizens have access to the vaccine before terrorists."
The initial report of the plan to vaccinate the prisoners – which was to begin as early as this week – was justified as part of the inoculation protocol for troops. However, it apparently received such a negative reaction the Pentagon halted the idea Saturday.
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