[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 148 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 148

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                     February 29, 2016.
Whereas United States citizen Robert Levinson is a retired agent of the Federal 
        Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a resident of Coral Springs, Florida, the 
        husband of Christine Levinson, and father of their seven children;
Whereas Robert Levinson traveled from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Kish 
        Island, Iran, on March 8, 2007;
Whereas after traveling to Kish Island and checking into the Hotel Maryam, 
        Robert Levinson disappeared on March 9, 2007;
Whereas, in December 2007, Robert Levinson's wife, Christine, traveled to Kish 
        Island to retrace Mr. Levinson's steps and met with officials of the 
        Government of Iran who pledged to help in the investigation;
Whereas, for more than 8 years, the United States Government has continually 
        pressed the Government of Iran to provide any information on the 
        whereabouts of Robert Levinson and to help ensure his prompt and safe 
        return to his family;
Whereas officials of the Government of Iran promised their continued assistance 
        to the relatives of Robert Levinson during the visit of the family to 
        the Islamic Republic of Iran in December 2007;
Whereas, in November 2010, the Levinson family received a video of Mr. Levinson 
        in captivity, representing the first proof of life since his 
        disappearance and providing some initial indications that he was being 
        held somewhere in southwest Asia;
Whereas, in April 2011, the Levinson family received a series of pictures of Mr. 
        Levinson, which provided further indications that he was being held 
        somewhere in southwest Asia;
Whereas Secretary John Kerry stated on August 28, 2013, ``The United States 
        respectfully asks the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to work 
        cooperatively with us in our efforts to help U.S. citizen Robert 
        Levinson.'';
Whereas, on September 28, 2013, during the first direct phone conversation 
        between the heads of the Government of the United States and Iran since 
        1979, President Barack Obama raised the case of Robert Levinson to 
        President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and urged the President of Iran to help 
        locate Mr. Levinson and reunite him with his family;
Whereas, on August 29, 2014, Secretary of State John Kerry again stated that the 
        United States ``respectfully request the Government of the Islamic 
        Republic of Iran work cooperatively with us to find Mr. Levinson and 
        bring him home.'';
Whereas on July 14, 2015, the Governments of the United States, the United 
        Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany concluded 20 months of 
        negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program;
Whereas, on January 16, 2016, the Government of Iran released five United States 
        citizens detained in Iran, Jason Rezaian of California, Saeed Abedini of 
        Idaho, Amir Mirzaei Hekmati of Michigan, Matthew Trevithick of 
        Massachusetts, and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari;
Whereas, on January 17, 2016, President Obama stated ``even as we rejoice in the 
        safe return of others, we will never forget about Bob'', referring to 
        Robert Levinson, and that ``each and every day but especially today our 
        hearts are with the Levinson family and we will never rest until their 
        family is whole again.'';
Whereas, on January 19, 2016, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated 
        that the United States Government had ``secured a commitment from the 
        Iranians to use the channel that has now been opened to secure the 
        release of those individuals that we know were being held by Iran * * * 
        to try and gather information about Mr. Levinson's possible 
        whereabouts'';
Whereas, on November 26, 2013, Robert Levinson became the longest held United 
        States hostage in our Nation's history; and
Whereas the FBI has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to Mr. 
        Levinson's safe return: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that Robert Levinson is the longest held United 
        States hostage in our Nation's history;
            (2) notes the repeated pledges by and renewed commitment of 
        officials of the Government of Iran to provide their Government's 
        assistance in the case of Robert Levinson;
            (3) urges the Government of Iran, as a humanitarian gesture, to act 
        on its promises to assist in the case of Robert Levinson and to 
        immediately provide to the United States Government all available 
        information from all entities of the Government of Iran regarding the 
        disappearance of Robert Levinson;
            (4) urges the President and the allies of the United States to 
        continue to raise with officials of the Government of Iran the case of 
        Robert Levinson at every opportunity, notwithstanding ongoing and 
        serious disagreements the United States Government has with the 
        Government of Iran on a broad array of issues, including Iran's 
        ballistic missile program, sponsorship of international terrorism, and 
        human rights abuses; and
            (5) expresses sympathy to the family of Robert Levinson for their 
        anguish and expresses hope that their ordeal can be brought to an end in 
        the near future.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.