Support for American Hostages and Detainees Abroad

Floor Speech

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Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad, I rise in support of the Conference Report to Accompany the National Defense Authorization Act.

In the past decade, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of Americans taken hostage by rogue states and bad actors who are trying to leverage civilians to get what they want.

Right now, according to the Foley Foundation, there are currently at least 64 Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained in countries overseas. They are held in 16 different countries and territories.

Now, more than ever, we must keep up the drumbeat to bring these individuals home. That is why I am so heartened that the NDAA includes two of my bills to support and assist Americans wrongfully detained abroad and their loved ones fighting to get them safely back home.

First, the U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day Act designates March 9 as Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day and requests that the President issue a yearly proclamation urging Americans to observe this day in remembrance for those held hostage.

The bill also requires the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag be flown at the Capitol, the White House, and numerous other Federal buildings.

These families need our support. These families need the Nation's attention. These families need this legislation. By designating a day and a flag to be flown on Federal property, we will bring much-needed awareness to the plight of these Americans and the heartache of their families.

In addition, I am so very pleased to see that the NDAA includes the Supporting Americans Wrongfully or Unlawfully Detained Abroad Act. Families of the wrongfully detained often spend thousands and thousands of dollars traveling back and forth to Washington to advocate for the release of their loved ones and to work on their safe return home.

This bill would help families defray these costs by providing financial assistance to cover the costs of travel to and from Washington, D.C., including travel by air, train, bus, or other transit, as well as covering lodging expenses.

These families who are already dealing with the detention of a loved one shouldn't have to worry about going broke or spending a life savings because they are working alongside the Federal Government to do what is right. This bill will help ease that financial burden.

Finally, when detainees return home after years of wrongful detention, we must do more to ensure that they have the resources they need to return to normal life. They have often been stripped of employment, housing, and life as they knew it before they were taken hostage.

We must remember that the wrongfully detained have been imprisoned oftentimes for years, if not decades, which is wrong. They may come home, but they won't necessarily come home to a job. We cannot let these individuals fall through the cracks when they return. We need to help them return back to society.

That is why I am so proud that this bill will also seek to make available physical health services, mental health services, and other support, including providing information on available legal or financial resources for up to 5 years following the release of a detainee.

We need to make sure that these individuals have the physical and mental health assistance that they need to recover from unspeakable trauma.

While nothing can give back the years that our adversaries or the time that our adversaries have taken from these Americans, we have a responsibility to help them get back on their feet.

I sincerely thank the other co-chair of the American Hostage and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad Task Force, Mr. French Hill from Arkansas, for working with me on both of these bills.

I also pay recognition to the families of the hostages, particularly the family of my constituent, Paul Whelan, who is about to hit 5 years wrongfully detained in Russia. We are continuing to shine a light on Paul and demand and call for his release from the Russian Government.

To those held hostage, Congress stands behind you. Congress continues to work alongside our ally, Israel, in calling for the return of the 138 hostages currently still being held in Gaza.

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