[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 101 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SGT. TAHMOORESSI

                                  _____
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2014

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my 
constituent, Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi, who is currently in jail in 
Mexico. I urge the government of Mexico to bring his case to trial and 
do all that they can to ensure he comes home safely and quickly.
  Mr. Tahmooressi has nobly served our country during war. He served 
two combat tours in Afghanistan including winning a combat field 
promotion to Sergeant in Helmand Province. He was honorably discharged 
in 2012, but remains on reserve duty until 2016. According to his 
family, he suffers from severe PTSD and had traveled from our hometown 
of Weston to California to seek treatment from a VA facility there. But 
he is currently in trouble and needs our assistance.
  Andrew was arrested on April 1st of this year in Tijuana, Mexico 
after crossing the border with several firearms in his automobile as 
well as ammunition for these weapons. He was then charged with 
possessing firearms and ammunition in violation of Mexican law. Andrew, 
according to his signed statement, was traveling to visit a friend near 
the Mexican border on the night of April 1 when he made a wrong turn 
and accidentally crossed the border into Mexico. It is also our 
understanding that the weapons in his possession at that time were 
purchased legally in the United States.
  After being held for two days in temporary holding, Andrew was 
transferred to La Mesa Penitentiary. Since his incarceration, Andrew 
has continued to suffer from PTSD.
  Yesterday I spoke to Andrew's mother Jill. As a mother, my heart goes 
out to her, her family and Andrew during this scary and uncertain time. 
As a fellow mother, her neighbor and her Representative, I committed to 
Jill that I will continue to do all that I can to bring Andrew home.
  I have raised Andrew and his situation personally with Vice President 
Joe Biden and with Mexican Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora. I commend 
the State Department for their efforts to ensure that Andrew is being 
treated humanely by Mexican authorities, and for their efforts in 
helping secure an attorney for Andrew. My staff and I have been in 
regular contact with the State Department since Andrew's arrest.
  I call on Mexican government officials, specifically the Attorney 
General of Mexico to ensure that Andrew's case moves as quickly as 
possible.
  I urge my colleagues to work collaboratively to find productive ways 
to bring Andrew home. There is absolutely no reason this important 
endeavor should be a partisan exercise.

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