On the recordMarch 13, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of 19-year-old Itay Chen, an American-Israeli and citizen soldier who died in service to his country. I was absolutely devastated yesterday to learn that Itay was not, as we thought, held hostage, but was killed on October 7 defending Israel's border from Hamas' brutal invasion. I sat with Itay's father, Ruby, many times over these last 6 months. In fact, he gave me this very tag that reads, Bring Them Home, in both English and Hebrew. We held out hope for 157 days that Itay would return home. This whole time Hamas has had his corpse as this war has raged on and as his parents have sat in darkness, and as we on the international stage and in this very Chamber have called for a return to the hostages. Mr. Speaker, I am furious. I will not stop fighting. ____________________
