House Republicans announced this morning the introduction of a bill that aims to halt the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison and transfer of detainees into the United States. In the war supplemental appropriations bill, House Democrats stripped the funding requested by President Obama to transfer detainees currently being housed in the prison to domestic facilities -- helping fuel the GOP argument that the administration's plan is unwise.

"Not only should there not be any money in the supplemental to move these detainees, we ought to make clear that none of these detainees should be brought to the United States until such time as the president has had a conversation with the American people, which is the essence of this bill we're bringing," Minority Leader John Boehner said, as the "Keep Terrorists Out of America Act" was introduced at a press conference.

During a speech this morning on the Senate floor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also criticized President Obama's proposal to close the prison and transfer detainees.

"Does the administration really think Congress will appropriate these funds before it presents us with a plan that keeps the American people as safe as Guantanamo has?" McConnell said. "The administration needs to explain its actions to the American people and their representatives in Congress. And Republicans will continue to ask these questions until they do."

A Rasmussen survey released last month found that just 36 percent support the closing of Gitmo -- down 8 points from January -- and 75 percent oppose releasing the detainees into the United States. Lawmakers from states with facilities administration officials have targeted for transferring detainees, such as Virginia, have been particularly concerned with the plan.

Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) introduced a bill -- co-sponsored by fellow Virginia GOP Reps. Eric Cantor, Frank Wolf and Robert Wittman -- in February that would prohibit the use of federal funds to transfer detainees to facilities in Virginia.

"If there ever was a time for protectionism, this is it," said Minority Whip Eric Cantor. "Coming from Virginia, where there are two facilities on the list of potential sites for relocating these terrorists, I am particularly passionate about making sure that the president's desire and some in this Congress to bring these enemy combatants to the soil of the United States does not happen."

The issue is also likely to come up in forthcoming elections. Bob McDonnell, the GOP nominee in the Virginia gubernatorial race, has supported the Forbes bill. "As Governor I will take all prudent actions to ensure that the terrorists and enemy combatants from Guantanamo Bay never step foot on Virginia soil," McDonnell said last month.