[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 99 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 99

    Calling on the Government of Iran to follow through on repeated 
promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson, the longest held 
            United States civilian in our Nation's history.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 10, 2015

    Mr. Nelson (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Carper) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

                           February 10, 2016

   Reported by Mr. Corker, with an amendment and an amendment to the 
                 preamble and an amendment to the title

                           February 11, 2016

  Considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble and an 
                         amendment to the title

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Calling on the Government of Iran to follow through on repeated 
promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson, the longest held 
            United States civilian in our Nation's history.

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 eight 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 of State 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 governments 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 Kerry again stated that the 
        United States ``respectfully request[s] 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, Germany, and Iran agreed to the Joint 
        Comprehensive Plan of Action;
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 that ``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, Mr. Levinson became the longest held United 
        States civilian in our Nation's history; and
Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced a $5,000,000 reward 
        for information leading to Mr. Levinson's safe return: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that Robert Levinson is the longest held 
        United States civilian 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 all available information 
        from all entities of the Government of Iran regarding the 
        disappearance of Robert Levinson to the United States 
        Government;
            (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.
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