Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in August 2012, American journalist and Marine veteran Austin Tice was abducted while reporting on the ongoing conflict in Syria. Eight years later, Tice continues to be held captive, his family and friends unaware of his condition and whereabouts. Five years later, another American citizen, Texas resident and psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz, was detained without cause in northern Syria while visiting an elderly family member and aiding civilians traumatized by the civil war. Kamalmaz has been imprisoned by the Assad regime in Syria ever since without access to the outside world. The Tice and Kamalmaz families have worked tirelessly to secure the immediate release of their loved ones. Still, Austin and Majd continue to suffer inside Syria. H. Res. 17 encourages the Department of State, the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and other U.S. Government entities to work jointly to facilitate Tice and Kamalmaz' safe release and return. This legislation does not legitimize the Assad regime. I would never do that. For years and years, I have called them out on all of their human rights violations. It is a brutal regime, murdering men, women, and children in the hundreds of thousands. So, this doesn't legitimize the Assad regime, nor does it legitimize the deplorable tactic of hostage-taking. In fact, it does the opposite.…”