Political Quotes

“Madam President, yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the kidnapping of a brave young man named Austin Tice. Back in 2012, Austin decided to put his law school studies on hold and spend the summer in Syria as a freelance journalist. He was frustrated with the lack of good information on Syria's civil war--a war that, by some estimates, has claimed more than one-half million lives and displaced millions more, having created a refugee crisis affecting neighboring countries, like Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon, and having destabilized the entire region. In spite of the violence and political turmoil and as a strong believer in the freedom of the press, Austin wanted to let his fellow Americans know what was going on in that terrible civil war, which continues to this day. So he didn't wait around for someone else to act; he went to Syria himself, and he reported on the civil war. As with most things he tried, Austin proved to be a very successful journalist. But then, in August of 2012, just days before he was planning to leave Syria, he was taken hostage, and little has been heard from him since. That is why I am again today renewing my call for Austin Tice's immediate release by his captors. Over the last several years, I have had the privilege of meeting with Austin's parents a number of times, Mark and Debra Tice, who have worked tirelessly to locate him and bring him home safely.…”