Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce, as well as my good friend, the ranking member, Mr. Engel, for their help in bringing H. Res. 317 to the floor today and for their tireless efforts to hold the Iranian regime accountable for all of its illicit activity, including the taking of American citizens and U.S. legal permanent residents as hostages. They have been incredible supporters of this movement, and I thank them for their unwavering support. Of course, I want to thank Ranking Member Nita Lowey for her help--I had the opportunity of meeting one of the family members with her before this presentation--and Judge Poe, who is always at our side; and my south Florida colleague and my dear friend, Ted Deutch, the ranking member on our Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. We have all joined together in authoring and introducing this resolution. The resolution, Mr. Speaker, is important for all of us. But for Ted Deutch, for my friend from south Florida, I know how very personal this is for him because it is his constituent, Bob Levinson, who continues to be held by Iran 10 years after his disappearance. Just yesterday, Ted and I convened a hearing in our Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee with some of the family members who are named in this very resolution. Doug Levinson, for example, Bob's youngest child, testified. Babak Namazi, son of Baquer and brother of Siamak testified. Omar Zakka, son of Nizar, testified.…”