Brian Schatz: “As partners in the effort to secure Mr. Valizadeh’s release, we ask that his freedom and welfare be an urgent priority…”

And I want to be really clear about this. Sure, this is a jurisdictional dispute. Sure, this is a legal matter. A, this is a law, not a suggestion. B, this just doesn't go through HHS. They have no jurisdiction here.

And just so you know that I don't think this is an entirely partisan question.

“But our work is not over, and this discussion was a chance to hear about what Congress can do to strengthen the law to improve compliance and speed up repatriation.”

But now the State Department has to start executing on what the law says.