House panel bars U.S. funds for Guantanamo ..

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Washington • A House panel has overwhelmingly backed a measure barring the use of U.S. funds for the transfer of detainees from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The move comes amid a congressional outcry over the swap of five Taliban leaders for an imprisoned American soldier.

The Appropriations Committee voted 33-13 on Tuesday for an amendment to the defense spending bill that captured bipartisan frustration with the Obama administration for failing to give Congress 30 days' notice before Guantanamo detainees are released. Five were exchanged for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (boh BURG'-dahl).

The amendment was sponsored by Republican Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (FREE'-ling-hy-zehn) of New Jersey and backed by six Democrats. It would prohibit money for the foreign transfer of detainees. The five Taliban were sent to Qatar.

The full House debates the bill next week.

House panel bars U.S. funds for Guantanamo transfers