Calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to Immediately Release United States Citizen Paul Whelan

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 272, calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to immediately release United States citizen Paul Whelan. I thank Representative Haley Stevens for her continued work and tireless advocacy for her constituent, Paul Whelan, and other Americans wrongfully detained overseas.

As I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to speak on this measure, I regret just how familiar it feels. For the third time, we are considering this resolution on the floor of the House of Representatives calling for Paul's release and expressing solidarity with him and other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

Russian authorities wrongfully detained Paul Whelan, an American marine veteran, more than 1,600 days ago on baseless charges for which no evidence was ever provided and subjected him to a sham, secretive trial.

For more than 4 years, Mr. Speaker, Paul has endured persecution, denials of his lawful rights, and the withholding of critical medical treatment while the Kremlin seeks to use him as a pawn for political gain.

For more than 4 years, Mr. Speaker, Paul's family has had to suffer this injustice, demanding his release, and pleading with us, the United States Government, to do everything in our power to bring him home.

Like Evan Gershkovich whose resolution we are also considering on the floor today, Paul's only crime is being an American. Tragically, only the Kremlin can release him from this detention and the suffering it has caused Paul and his family, but we in the United States Congress and the United States House of Representatives are not powerless to make a difference and support the administration's effort to bring Paul and others like him home.

This resolution today is one step that we can take to demand that the Russian Government forego the horrific practice of using the lives and freedoms of American citizens as political bargaining chips, demanding Paul's release, and raising his and other cases at every available opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, we must pass this resolution calling for the release of Paul Whelan for the third straight Congress and continue to advocate forcefully and unequivocally for his release. We must continue to call out Russia for its illegal and reprehensible hostage taking and warn Americans about the dangers of traveling to Putin's lawless fiefdom.

In last year's NDAA, we boasted notification and transparency at the State Department pertaining to wrongfully detained and added crucial new whistleblower rewards provisions that would deter further hostage taking and help bring imprisoned Americans home to their families where they belong.

Mr. Speaker, we must continue to do everything we can and bring Paul to his family here at home in the United States of America.

I strongly support this measure, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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Mr. MEEKS. Stevens), who has been fighting for Paul Whelan's release.

Mr. Speaker, for far too long, Paul Whelan has suffered at the hands of the regime in the Kremlin. For far too long, he has been forced to endure the horrific conditions in a Russian labor camp, wondering when he will finally be able to see his family again. For far too long, he has been left to wonder whether he has been forgotten by the government that the Kremlin is using him to extort.

By passing this legislation and taking other important steps to support Paul, to support Evan, and other Americans wrongfully detained overseas, we can speak with one voice, a single voice, that the United States Government will not rest until he and others like him are finally brought home to their families.

One voice, that is what we will do today. I know that my colleagues will join me in support of this very important resolution.

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