Legislation recently introduced by U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) would bring a permanent halt to plans to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

The Detaining Terrorists to Protect Americans Act, H.R. 4895, would permanently prevent the closure of the prison and stop to the release of Guantanamo Bay detainees through September 2017.

“Our nation cannot afford to politicize national security,” Jenkins said. “There has been consistent bipartisan opposition to the president’s proposal to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer the prisoners to America. The risks of the move are simply too great. That’s why I introduced legislation to prevent further time being spent on an issue where the American people have already made their definitive opinion clear.”

In March, Paul Lewis, the Pentagon’s special envoy for Guantanamo detention closure, told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the transfer of detainees from the prison had resulted in the deaths of Americans, the Associated Press reports.

“Additionally, this legislation will halt the release of the enemy combatants housed at Guantanamo Bay through September 2017,” Jenkins said. “Reports indicate a terrifying number of released prisoners returning to the battlefield — there can be no justification for releasing militants who could potentially endanger American lives.”

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) introduced a Senate version of the Detaining Terrorists to Protect Americans Act, S. 2746, last week.