Posted on 05/11/2015 6:48:42 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
The Senate lent strong support today to a simply worded resolution calling on Iran to let four Americans come home.
The bipartisan resolution from Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) passed 90-0.
It states that it’s the policy of the United States that “the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran should immediately release Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, and Jason Rezaian, and cooperate with the United States Government to locate and return Robert Levinson; and the United States Government should undertake every effort using every diplomatic tool at its disposal to secure their immediate release.”
Washington Post bureau chief Rezaian, a California native who reported from Tehran since 2008, was seized on July 22, 2014, in a raid on his home. His wife, Yeganeh Salehi, a reporter for UAE English-language newspaper The National, was also detained and released in October. Word came last month that Rezaian will go on trial for espionage charges.
Marine vet Hekmati was seized while visiting extended family for the first time in August 2011, Abedini was convicted in January 2013 for establishing Christian house churches, and Levinson went missing off the coast of Iran eight years ago while working as a private investigator. Levinson’s family later received images of him in captivity, though the Iranian government has maintained they don’t know who is holding the former FBI agent.
Levinson’s senator, Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), noted in a floor speech today that “if the government of Iran really wanted to help, it could.”
“There’s somebody in Iran who can produce the facts if he wanted to, and that’s the supreme leader,” Nelson said, asking that Levinson finally be brought home to his wife and seven children.
“That is what humanity would absolutely require,” the senator added.
Risch, whose constituent is Pastor Abedini, said his offense “was being Christian and pursuing Christianity in a country where this is not permitted.” The regime, he added, “knows no shame.”
“He’s done absolutely nothing that is a threat to the Iranian people… and he should be released,” said Risch. “Iran thinks it elevates its position in the world by doing these kinds of things.”
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who represents the Hekmati family, noted the Iraq war veteran is a “patriotic American … who served his country honorably and bravely.”
“It’s frightening, it’s deplorable, it’s outrageous and he needs to come home now,” Stabenow said. “This resolution is a clear message to the Iranian government.”
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) tried to get an amendment added to the Iran nuclear agreement review bill requiring the release of the American hostages, but his amendment was not allowed a vote after a veto threat from President Obama.
More at link
Yeah 10 senators who didn’t show up for work. These guys work 100 days max for 177,000 dollars a year and they can’t even show up to vote. I wish the 10 would be fired immediately. You do know in the real World that you have to show up for work or you are fired immediately. Congress is a blister that needs to be popped and changed. I can see why they only have a 9 percent approval rate if you can’t do the most basic think like showing up at the appointed place in time. 10 Senators were UA or AWOL or whatever you want to say. So sick of it!
Where are the missing 10 Senators?
Obviously don’t care about their jobs. I think we should know the 10 Senators who skipped their job today at least.
Tomorrow they’re setting up a hashtag.
Grab some Iranians — maybe some of the UN staff — two of theirs for every American they are known to hold. Tell them that we’ll be holding these people until they release our Americans.
Where are the missing 10 Senators?
The Senate’s mental Viagra. Talk about impotent.
Post of the week.
Nevermind.
That’s what I’m asking.
Strange that we can’t seem to get a roll call.
I looked all over yesterday, and will try again today.
‘Still can’t find anything. Sure seems they’re covering for someone.
Booker (D-NJ) Cruz (R-TX) Graham (R-SC) Kirk (R-IL) Rubio (R-FL) Sanders (I-VT) Sullivan (R-AK) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Wyden (D-OR)
What are their flimsy excuses this time?
4 of them are running for President. Not that that is an excuse, but they probably should take a pay cut if they are not going to show up for work. I have no idea why the others were no shows. Somebody should ask them and make them go on the record.
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