[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 159 (Wednesday, October 4, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S6305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Detention of Dr. Andrew Brunson

  Madam President, this weekend is an anniversary I don't like bringing 
up. One year ago this weekend, a gentleman named Dr. Andrew Brunson was 
detained in Turkey. He has been a pastor in Turkey for more than 20 
years, and he is a U.S. citizen. He has faithfully served the people of 
Turkey for two decades. A year ago this weekend, he was picked up by 
local authorities and was detained for months and months without 
charges. He was just swept up and held.
  Things are changing rapidly in Turkey right now. Turkey is not the 
same NATO ally and friend of the United States that they have been. The 
leadership of Turkey is radically changing the nature of that very open 
democracy and is shutting it down to become more and more of an 
authoritarian government. American citizens who do business there, who 
do mission work there, who have friends and family there, need to be 
aware that Americans are being swept up and detained without charges 
and held. In the case of Dr. Brunson, he has been held for a year. I 
have to warn fellow Americans that Turkey is not necessarily a safe 
place to do business in and travel to anymore.
  Right now, Turkey has the authority to release Dr. Brunson. He is an 
American citizen and a pastor. They have the ability to do that.
  Recently, the Appropriations Committee passed an amendment in an 
appropriations bill giving additional authorities to our State 
Department to take action against Turkish officials who hold American 
citizens like this and to put specific sanctions on those individuals. 
I hope that in the days ahead, our State Department will use that tool 
in their toolbox to apply pressure on the Turkish people to not impose 
arbitrary detention on U.S. citizens. We can push back on the Turks.
  I hope that in the days ahead, the Turkish Government turns back 
around to more of an open democracy. They have been a nation in the 
past that was historic for their stand for religious liberty and 
democracy in that region. We would like to see a Turkish ally that 
still stands for religious liberty and the protection of all citizens 
in the days ahead.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.