Bring Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis Home

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of United States Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis, who, for the last 365 days, has been unjustly jailed by the Japanese Government.

The State Department and the Department of Defense need to demonstrate strength and exercise leverage and bring Ridge home and bring him home now.

America needs to bring Ridge home for justice's sake. America needs to bring Ridge home to send a message to the 50,000 troops we have stationed in Japan that the brass, bureaucrats, and politicians have their backs.

America needs to bring Ridge home to demonstrate to the Japanese that we are the United States of America, the world superpower, and our commitment to their defense against China and North Korea comes with a few conditions, and one of them is to treat our troops fairly.

Madam Speaker, our government has negotiated for the release of other Americans who have done far less for our great Nation than an Active- Duty naval officer. America needs to bring Ridge home. A year in prison is far too long.

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