Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), unanimously passed H. Res. 233, a bipartisan measure introduced by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), which states that Iran should immediately release the three United States citizens it holds and provide all known information on any United States citizens that have disappeared within its borders.  Passage of the resolution comes after this morning’s Committee hearing, at which family members of Americans detained or missing in Iran testified.

Upon passage of H. Res. 233, Chairman Royce said:  “This Committee stands in solidarity with each of the Americans detained or missing in Iran.  This morning, we heard of the emotional toll placed on these families and the physical and psychological abuse of their loved ones.  The resolution we have passed rightly points out that if Iran truly wishes to engage constructively with the rest of the world regarding its nuclear program, step one would be releasing these Americans and allowing them to be reunited with their loved ones.  If top Iranian officials can’t be counted on to assist these wrongfully jailed Americans, can they be counted on to honor the commitments they make at the negotiating table?  Call me a skeptic.

“I appreciate the unanimous support of this resolution and look forward to its passage in the House.  These Americans must come home – now.”

A summary of the Committee action will be available HERE.

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