Ongoing Hostage Crisis

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, it has been 116 days since the attack, with more than 130 hostages, including six Americans, who are still not home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues to call for the immediate, unconditional release of the more than 130 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Among them is an American citizen with deep connections to my district north of Chicago, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Hersh was last seen on October 7, kidnapped, wounded, and being taken at gunpoint to Gaza. His left arm had been severed just below the elbow, blown off by a grenade thrown into a bus stop where Hersh had sought refuge with approximately 30 others fleeing the carnage at the Re'im music festival.

Most in the shelter were murdered. Hersh, bloodied and dazed, was kidnapped. Hersh is the son of Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, both originally from Chicago. Hersh has family and friends across my district. Hersh's aunt, Abby Polin, is a dear, personal friend of more than 30 years. His cousins went to school with my kids. His grandmother, Leah, has been an inspiration and a pillar of strength.

I join all of Hersh's family and friends in praying with all my heart and with all my might for Hersh's safety, for his health, and for his safe return.

Hersh, a vibrant 23-year-old, should be home with his parents and his two sisters, planning for his future. He should be traveling on a planned trip he had that was scheduled to leave last month.

In fact, El Al Airlines has held his reserved seat, praying for his return.

We must do everything we can to bring pressure on Hamas to release Hersh and all the other hostages. We need the U.N. and the International Community of the Red Cross to demand Hamas immediately provide access to the hostages and ensure their unconditional release.

We need Qatar and Egypt and others to do more, to do whatever is necessary to bring the hostages home. I refuse to let the hostages be forgotten.

Tonight, with all my colleagues here, we stand on this House floor imploring Congress to do more, to do everything we can to work to save the hostages. To Hersh's parents, Rachel and Jon, to the parents, grandparents, kids, brothers, sisters, the loved ones of every hostage, know we stand with you. We feel your pain. We hear your pleas. We share your hope. Bring them home. Bring them home now.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his relentless advocacy and for his partnership in continuing to help make sure we can keep a spotlight on the plight of these hostages who have been kept in captivity for 115 days now.

Schrier), a dear friend and the first pediatrician ever elected to the United States Congress.

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