WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in observance of the anniversary of Robert Levinson’s wrongful detention in Iran:
“Bob was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather who the Iranian regime wrongfully detained for more than a decade. Throughout this time, his devoted family fought tirelessly for his return and on behalf of other families’ fighting to bring their wrongfully imprisoned loved ones home.
“The longest held civilian in our nation’s history, Bob’s legacy and the entire Levinson family’s determination and tenacity served as the impetus for the enactment of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. Today, as we honor and celebrate Bob’s life, I remain committed to ensure this new important law is swiftly and fully implemented to prevent other American citizens and nationals from enduring similar tragedies in the future.”
The Menendez-authored Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act was passed into law in late 2020 to fortify existing programs to address hostage-taking and equip the U.S. government with new tools to perform rescues, punish captors, and provide critical information and support to hostages and their families. A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.
###