On the recordOctober 10, 2017
Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago today, Caitlan Coleman, an American citizen from York County, Pennsylvania, which I am privileged to represent, was taken hostage by the Haqqani Network, an offshoot of the Taliban, while hiking near the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. Caitlan has given birth to two boys while in captivity, boys whose only life experience has been that of a hostage and surrounded by violence and fear. I speak with Caitlan's mom and dad regularly. While my heart breaks for them, as fellow Americans, as a father with children of my own, I am crestfallen and horrified for them. Caitlan and her family are Americans. We cannot rest until they are released and returned safely to the arms of the United States. I urge my colleagues to join me in praying for the safe return of Caitlan, her husband, and her two children, but also for her family and loved ones for whom time stopped 5 years ago. I implore the U.S. State Department to use every resource at our disposal to bring our American citizens home. ____________________
