[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 10, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 99--CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN TO FULFILL ITS 
PROMISES OF ASSISTANCE IN THE CASE OF ROBERT LEVINSON, THE LONGEST HELD 
             UNITED STATES CIVILIAN IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY

  Mr. NELSON (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 99

       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 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, on August 29, 2014, Secretary of State 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 the United States Government is currently engaged 
     in regular, direct negotiations with the Government of Iran 
     over its nuclear program;
       Whereas March 9, 2015, marks the 2,922nd day since Mr. 
     Levinson's disappearance, and he is now 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 pledges by current 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 serious disagreements the United States 
     Government has 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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