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Letter to the Hon. Donald J. Trump, President of the United States - Engel Leads Congressional Effort to Secure the Release of Detained Journalist Austin Tice

Letter

By: French Hill, Zoe Lofgren, Alan Lowenthal, Stephanie Murphy, Rob Woodall, Pete Visclosky, Bill Keating, Paul Mitchell, Michael Guest, Eliot Engel, Jackie Speier, Karen Bass, Jim Himes, Doug LaMalfa, Julia Brownley, Mike Levin, Francis Rooney, Cindy Axne, Hal Rogers, Steny Hoyer, Debbie Dingell, Chris Pappas, Thomas Suozzi, Mike Turner, Joe Wilson, Sr., Kevin Brady, Michael Burgess, Abigail Spanberger, Jared Huffman, Adam Schiff, Scott Tipton, Lois Frankel, Danny Davis, Steve Scalise, David Trone, Ilhan Omar, Jeff Van Drew, Gregory Meeks, Earl Blumenauer, Tim Burchett, Al Green, Michael Cloud, Derek Kilmer, Kyrsten Sinema, Johnny Isakson, Chris Van Hollen, Jr., Ben Sasse, Bob Casey, Jr., Mark Warner, Donald Young, Ro Khanna, Katie Porter, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Hank Johnson, Jr., Cheri Bustos, Stephen Lynch, Andy Levin, Roger Wicker, Don Payne, Jr., Adriano Espaillat, Guy Reschenthaler, John Ratcliffe, Tom O'Halleran, Kevin McCarthy, Harley Rouda, Greg Steube, Barry Loudermilk, Steven Watkins, Jr., Anthony Brown, Haley Stevens, Donald Bacon, Susie Lee, Steve Chabot, Mike Thompson, Ted Lieu, Jason Crow, Ted Deutch, Jan Schakowsky, Jim McGovern, Jamie Raskin, Ann Wagner, Chris Smith, Grace Meng, Peter DeFazio, Steve Cohen, Michael McCaul, Henry Cuellar, Adam Smith, Dianne Feinstein, Brian Schatz, Susan Collins, Jeanne Shaheen, Pat Toomey, Tim Kaine, Jim Costa, Gil Cisneros, Eleanor Norton, Donna Shalala, Adam Kinzinger, Seth Moulton, Elissa Slotkin, Emanuel Cleaver II, Albio Sires, Max Rose, Brendan Boyle, Van Taylor, Vicente Gonzalez, Filemon Vela, Jr., Liz Cheney, Cory Gardner, Joni Ernst, Amy Klobuchar, Jacky Rosen, John Thune, Patty Murray, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Mike Bost, Lori Trahan, Dan Kildee, Vicky Hartzler, Tom Malinowski, Yvette Clarke, Brian Fitzpatrick, Dan Crenshaw, Randy Weber, Sr., Colin Allred, Mark Pocan, Michael Bennet, Mazie Hirono, Angus King, Jr., Tom Udall, Jack Reed, Patrick Leahy, Deb Haaland, Nita Lowey, GT Thompson, Jr., Lance Gooden, Sheila Jackson Lee, Brian Babin, Dan Sullivan, Chris Coons, Tammy Duckworth, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Sherrod Brown, John Cornyn, Tammy Baldwin, Jenniffer González-Colón, Ron Wright, Will Hurd, John Curtis, Doug Jones, Marco Rubio, Mike Braun, Thom Tillis, Jim Inhofe, Ted Cruz, Joe Manchin III, Veronica Escobar, Lloyd Doggett II, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Blumenthal, Dick Durbin, Tina Smith, Kirsten Gillibrand, Marsha Blackburn, Maria Cantwell, Tom Cotton, Rick Scott, Jerry Moran, Deb Fischer, James Lankford, Mitt Romney
Date: Sept. 27, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Foreign Affairs

Dear President Trump:

It has now been more than seven years since Austin Tice, a veteran Marine Corps Captain who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was detained at a checkpoint near Damascus, Syria while working in the country as a freelance journalist. This talented young man is an Eagle Scout who began college at the University of Houston at the age of 16, received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, proudly served his country as a Marine, and was about to begin his final year at Georgetown University Law Center. At the time of his capture, Austin was preparing to return home after having spent the summer covering the suffering of the Syrian people as a freelance reporter. Austin's lifelong dedication to serving others represents the best of our country's ideals and values.

The Tice family and your own administration are confident that Austin is alive. We strongly urge that you continue to use the full weight of your national security team -- including dispatching the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs -- to secure his release. Seven years is simply too long for Austin to be separated from his loved ones.

The recent releases of American Sam Goodwin and Canadian Kristian Baxter from their captivity in Syria are encouraging developments. These events lead us to believe that there is a strong prospect of finally securing Austin's safe return.

Congress remains united in our commitment to supporting any and all constructive efforts to bring Austin home to his family. We urge you to make Austin's immediate and safe return a priority.


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