[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 163 (Tuesday, December 18, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H6836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         U.S. MARINE JON HAMMAR

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to the plight 
of the United States Marine veteran, Jon Hammar, who has been unjustly 
jailed in a Mexican prison since August. Jon is an American hero and a 
patriot.
  After tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, including time in Fallujah, 
Jon began to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. In order to 
help cope with PTSD, Jon and a friend embarked upon a surfing trip to 
Costa Rica. However, when they got to Mexico, Jon was arrested after 
receiving inaccurate information from our own Customs and Border Patrol 
agents. Since then, Jon has been languishing in his own personal hell. 
He was beaten by other inmates, his parents were being extorted, and he 
has been chained to his bed.
  I'm asking my fellow Members of Congress to join me and over 50 of 
our colleagues to urge our State Department and the Mexican authorities 
to resolve this matter immediately and bring Jon Hammar home for 
Christmas. Please call our congressional office to sign these important 
letters.

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