Sheila Jackson Lee: “This is a very historic day. We overturned and dismissed the words of Justice Thomas that the rights of Americans should…”

“This is a very historic day. We overturned and dismissed the words of Justice Thomas that the rights of Americans should be denied. We voted for the Respect for Marriage Act that will be signed by the President of the United States. Then in the midst of darkness, Brittney Griner was swapped and is on her way home. Negotiations by the hostage negotiating team took months because Mr. Putin would not negotiate. Finding our hostages and bringing them home is not a partisan issue. I love Paul Whelan and his family. We introduced legislation passed by the House that said to bring Brittney Griner home and bring Paul Whelan home. I am happy for Cherelle, Brittney's mother and father, Houston, Phoenix, the Nation, and all the players in the WNBA, but we will continue to use the power of the sovereign United States to bring Paul Whelan home, as we did Trevor Reed and as we did those who came from Venezuela. Let us unify together. Let us celebrate Brittney and fight to bring Paul Whelan home. ____________________”