WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Cornyn (R-Texas), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter to President Joe Biden encouraging his Administration to continue pushing for the safe release of Austin Tice, a Houston native, Marine veteran, and journalist who has been held captive in Syria for nearly a decade.
They wrote: “We are writing to express our appreciation to you and your Administration’s commitment to bring Mr. Austin Tice back home. This past December, your National Security Advisor, Mr. Jake Sullivan, met at some length with Mrs. Debra Tice, mother of Mr. Austin Tice. It is encouraging to know of your Administration’s commitment to securing Mr. Tice’s safe return.”
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
January 18, 2022
President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to express our appreciation to you and your Administration’s commitment to bring Mr. Austin Tice back home. This past December, your National Security Advisor, Mr. Jake Sullivan, met at some length with Mrs. Debra Tice, mother of Mr. Austin Tice. It is encouraging to know of your Administration’s commitment to securing Mr. Tice’s safe return.
As you know, as a beloved son, brother, Eagle Scout, journalist, and veteran Marine Corps Captain, Austin represents the best our nation has to offer, and we are committed to working with you to return him to his loving family. As an American and a veteran, Austin deserves the full and active support of our government to bring him home safely.
The safe return of all American hostages around the world in Venezuela, Iran, China, Russia, and beyond also deserve our unfettered attention. We encourage continued diplomacy on their cases and strongly support your efforts to bring them home to their families as soon as possible. We also encourage you to work with our allies to consider ways to further disincentivize the hostage taking of American citizens.
We ask that you keep us informed of your progress so that the Congress and your Administration can continue to work hand in hand on this important issue.
Sincerely,
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