Calling for the Immediate Release of Ryan Corbett, A United States Citizen

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 965, calling for the immediate release of Ryan Corbett, a United States citizen, who was wrongfully detained by the Taliban on August 10, 2022, and condemning the wrongful detention of Americans by the Taliban, as well.

I thank Representative Tenney and Chairman McCaul for their work on this resolution, as well as Ranking Member Meeks and so many other people who joined together in a bipartisan effort to highlight the Taliban's wrongful detention of Ryan Corbett.

Ryan and his family made Kabul home for more than a decade. In 2017, he founded a business consultancy focused on straightening out Afghanistan's private sector.

Anna Corbett spoke in front of our committee this past November and again in April at a roundtable for the families of detainees. She shared the harrowing experience she and her family have been through themselves and some insights she has gained into Ryan's conditions in a Taliban prison. She has continued to advocate with our government to continue to do all that it can to bring him home.

I know that the Biden administration has made the return of Americans detained overseas, including Ryan's case, a priority at the highest of levels, particularly for Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West. I thank them for their focus on bringing American citizens wrongfully detained abroad home and pledge to continue to work with them, Representative Tenney, and others to bring Ryan home, too.

Finally, I thank our partners in Qatar, who serve as our protecting power in Afghanistan and who have been key partners in helping secure the release of American citizens in Afghanistan and around the world. We are grateful for Qatar's ability to conduct occasional health and safety visits to Ryan and demand that the Taliban allow these visits much more frequently.

Ultimately, we call on the Taliban themselves to release Ryan immediately and allow him to safely return to his family.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey), who has been a strong supporter of Ryan's release and is working hand in hand with Ryan's father, who lives in his area.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Once again, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his leadership on the committee dealing with this, as well as Ranking Member Meeks.

Madam Speaker, I close by expressing my deepest sympathy to Anna Corbett and all of Ryan's children, family, and loved ones. I can only imagine the pain that they must feel every day and the fear they have for Ryan's safety every day. The strength and courage they have shown and their commitment to securing his release is truly remarkable, though nothing will ease their pain until Ryan is brought home.

They should know that Congress stands with them and that we will not rest until he is home safely and reunited with them. That is the mission of this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in strongly supporting this measure.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source