[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CALLING ON IRAN FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE CASE OF ROBERT LEVINSON

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 271, S. Res. 
312.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 312) calling on the government of 
     Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance in this case of 
     Robert Levinson, one of the longest held United States 
     civilians in our Nation's history.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to; the Nelson 
amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be 
agreed to; the amendment to the title be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 312) was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2638) was agreed to as follows:

        (Purpose: To make technical corrections in the preamble)

       In the seventh whereas clause of the preamble, strike ``and 
     providing some initial indications that he was being held 
     somewhere in southwest Asia''.
       In the eighth whereas clause of the preamble, strike 
     ``further''.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2639) was agreed to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To amend the title)

       Amend the title so as to read: ``A resolution urging the 
     Government of Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance in 
     this case of Robert Levinson, one of the longest held United 
     States civilians in our Nation's history.''.
  The resolution (S. Res. 312), with its preamble, as amended, and its 
title, as amended, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 312

       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 7 children;
       Whereas Robert Levinson traveled from Dubai 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 6 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;
       Whereas, in April 2011, the Levinson family received a 
     series of pictures of Mr. Levinson, which provided 
     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 leaders 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 November 26, 2013, marked the 2,455th day since Mr. 
     Levinson's disappearance, making him one of the longest held 
     United States civilians in our Nation's history; and
       Whereas the FBI has announced a $1,000,000 reward for 
     information leading to Mr. Levinson's safe return: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that Robert Levinson is one of the longest 
     held United States civilians in our Nation's history;
       (2) notes recent pledges by newly appointed 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 intensify its cooperation on the case of Robert 
     Levinson and to immediately share the results of its 
     investigation into the disappearance of Robert Levinson with 
     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 other serious disagreements the United States 
     Government has had with the Government of Iran on a broad 
     array of issues, including human rights, the nuclear program 
     of Iran, the Middle East peace process, regional stability, 
     and international terrorism; 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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