Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act

Floor Speech

I rise in total support of S. 2607. It is a bill that will award a Congressional Gold Medal to the former hostages of the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-1981.

Mr. Speaker, on November 4, 1979, Iranian students in Iran's capital city, Tehran, stormed the American Embassy, trapping more than 50 American workers within the embassy grounds. This violent act was carried out to declare a break from Iran's past and put an end to the perceived American interference in the region.

The response by the Carter administration at the onset was limited to, one, asset freezes; and two, blockading the shipment of goods to Iran. There was fear that anything more would encourage the students to destroy the embassy and harm the hostages.

I am sure we all remember Walter Cronkite ending his nightly program reporting the number of days the hostages were held captive, a daily reminder of those who were still trapped.

During this time, the hostages were subjected to intense physical and psychological torture, but their spirit never wavered. Those held captive showed extraordinary courage by continually engaging in acts of resistance against their captors, such as by refusing to sign condemnations of the United States despite the gross violations of their human rights.

This infamous incident in American history lasted 444 days, and it is important that we continue to remember the bravery shown by those courageous Americans.

S. 2607 will honor the captured United States diplomats, military personnel, and civilians with the recognition that they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

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Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I will say, this is the least we can do for these American heroes, what they sacrificed, the abuse they took. This is such a worthy cause.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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