Expressing Concern Over Detention of Austin Tice

Floor Speech

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. McCaul, for the time and take a moment to salute and provide tribute to Congressman Eliot Engel for his extraordinary service as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. His wise counsel will be missed in this House.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank, too, my good friend on the House Financial Services Committee, a colleague and collaborator on many good things, my friend, Congressman Al Green from Houston, for his service and leadership on this important matter.

Austin Bennett Tice, an international correspondent in Syria and a Marine veteran who we have heard about today, has been missing since 2012. And my constituent, Dr. Majd Kamalmaz, a noted child therapist who was in Syria attending the funeral of a relative, has been missing since 2017.

These families deserve certainty and recovery of their loved ones, Mr. Speaker. Both Mr. Tice and Dr. Kamalmaz have called on American and international leaders to bring home their loved ones.

It is our duty to do whatever we can to ensure that these and all other Americans held abroad are returned safely and as soon as possible.

I am grateful for the leadership of President Trump and now National Security Advisor and former Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Robert O'Brien for their steadfast determination to bring American citizens home.

Our work will not be complete until all Americans are reunited with their families and their loved ones.

We ask for God's blessings on this House floor for those held in captivity and for their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I vote in favor, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important legislation. Let's pull together in this House to bring home our American hostages.

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