Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, there is no more sacred responsibility of government than to ensure the safety and well-being of the American people and ensure that their human rights are respected. Tragically, the authoritarian regime in the Kremlin has taken to the practice of using that commitment against us, taking our citizens hostage for political leverage. In last year's State Department authorization act, which passed in the annual NDAA, we included additional tools for the State Department to address hostage taking. These include quicker notifications to Congress, expanded whistleblower rewards programs, and greater resources for the State Department. I look forward to these changes being put to use. In Evan's case, we can take an important step by passing this resolution and condemning hostage diplomacy in the strongest possible terms. We must continue to express support for the efforts of the administration to secure Evan's return and demonstrate our commitment to Evan and Paul, and all other Americans wrongfully detained overseas, for as long as it takes. As I close, I again thank Chairman McCaul for partnering with me on this important resolution. I hope my colleagues will join us unanimously in supporting this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, let me also thank the ranking member, Mr.…”