Calling for the Immediate Release of Austin Tice

Floor Speech

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Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in calling for the immediate release of award-winning journalist and veteran Austin Tice. I thank the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and the gentleman from Texas, Al Green, for their moving words and their unflagging efforts to secure Austin Tice's release.

Austin has been held captive in Syria for over seven years. He traveled to Syria as a freelance journalist to cover the war in May 2012. Few journalists were working in Syria at this time, and his vital reporting and images appeared in major news sources, including the Washington Post, Agence France Presse, and McClatchy Newspapers. Three months later, he was detained at a check point south of Damascus on his way to Lebanon.

Austin has been missing ever since. Five weeks after he was taken captive, a 43-second video titled ``Austin Tice is Alive'' emerged, showing a group of unidentified armed men holding Austin. This was the last information received from the captors.

Although Austin Tice has spent far too many days, months, and years in captivity, crucially the United States government believes Austin is alive. The FBI is offering a one-million-dollar reward for information leading directly to his safe location and return. His parents, Debra and Marc Tice, have been consistent beacons of hope throughout Austin's captivity, working passionately for his release, and never losing hope for their son's safe return. Their love for their son has had the power to mobilize a large, bipartisan, bicameral group of Members of Congress from all over the country. I was proud to join my colleagues this September in a letter to President Trump calling for him to use the full weight of his national security team to bring Austin home, and I renew that call now.

Austin Tice has been separated from his family, friends, and loved ones for far too long. He has spent too many birthdays in captivity. I join my colleagues in calling upon those who are keeping him in Syria to let Austin Tice go. Let him return safely to his family and his country.

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