[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 167 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8362-H8364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE 
     OF WRONGDOING OR TO RELEASE UNITED STATES CITIZEN PAUL WHELAN

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 552) calling on the Government of the Russian 
Federation to provide evidence of wrongdoing or to release United 
States citizen Paul Whelan.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 552

       Whereas United States citizen Paul Whelan is a resident of 
     Novi, Michigan, and a United States Marine Corps veteran;
       Whereas Paul Whelan traveled to Moscow for the wedding of a 
     personal friend on December 22, 2018;
       Whereas Russia's Federal Security Service arrested Paul 
     Whelan at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow on December 28, 2018, 
     and charged him with espionage;
       Whereas Paul Whelan was imprisoned in Lefortovo Prison and 
     continues to be held there more than eight months after his 
     arrest;
       Whereas the Federal Security Service has not provided any 
     evidence of supposed wrongdoing;
       Whereas a Moscow court has extended Paul Whelan's pre-trial 
     detention multiple times without publicly presenting 
     justification or evidence of wrongdoing;
       Whereas officials from the United States Embassy in Moscow 
     have routinely had their topics of discussion with Paul 
     Whelan severely limited by the Federal Security Service;
       Whereas even Paul Whelan's Federal Security Service-
     appointed lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said on May 24, 2019, 
     ``[The Federal Security Service] always roll[s] out what they 
     have, but in this case, we've seen nothing concrete against 
     Whelan in five months. That means there is nothing.'';
       Whereas the United States Ambassador to Russia, Jon 
     Huntsman, responded on April 12, 2019, to a question about 
     the detention of Paul Whelan, ``If the Russians have 
     evidence, they should bring it forward. We have seen nothing. 
     If there was a case, I think the evidence would have been 
     brought forward by now.''; and
       Whereas Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Russian 
     Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 14, 2019, and urged him 
     to ensure United States citizens are not unjustly held 
     abroad: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     present credible evidence on the allegations against Paul 
     Whelan or immediately release him from detention;
       (2) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     provide unrestricted consular access to Paul Whelan while he 
     remains in detention;
       (3) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     ensure Paul Whelan is afforded due process and universally 
     recognized human rights;
       (4) encourages the President and the Secretary of State to 
     continue to press the Government of the Russian Federation at 
     every opportunity and urge the Russian Government to 
     guarantee a fair and transparent judicial process without 
     undue delay in accordance with its international legal 
     obligation; and
       (5) expresses sympathy to the family of Paul Whelan and 
     expresses hope that their ordeal can soon be brought to an 
     end.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 552.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as we stand here on the House floor, an American citizen 
is being wrongfully held in a Russian prison without trial, without any 
evidence of his supposed crime, denied his rights, suffering, deprived 
of the medical attention he so desperately needs.
  This is how Vladimir Putin is treating Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen 
who has been unjustly imprisoned in Russia for almost a year. There has 
been no evidence offered to show that Mr. Whelan has done anything 
wrong or anything to deserve this horrific imprisonment with no end in 
sight.
  Paul's family in Michigan wants to see him returned home safely, and 
Congress must stand with them and demand justice.
  H. Res. 552 sends a strong message from Congress. It calls on Russia 
to either offer up some legitimate evidence

[[Page H8363]]

that justifies why they have Mr. Whelan in prison or immediately 
release him and let him come home to his family in the United States.
  We can't accept this current situation to go on any longer with Mr. 
Whelan languishing in his cell with no understanding of why he is being 
subjected to this horror.
  Sadly, this injustice is what life is like in Putin's Russia. There 
is no independent judicial process. There are no rights for defendants. 
There is abuse, mistreatment, corruption. It is critical that we all 
keep this in mind. That is why it is so important for the United States 
to stand strong in condemning Putin and upholding our commitment to the 
rule of law.
  I want to thank Ms. Stevens for her hard work in offering this 
measure. As Mr. Whelan's congressional representative, she has been 
tirelessly pushing for Paul's release as has the entire Michigan 
delegation.
  This is a good bipartisan measure I am pleased to support. I urge all 
Members to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 552, which calls on 
the government of the Russian Federation to release Paul Whelan, an 
American citizen, from their custody or provide compelling evidence of 
his alleged wrongdoing.
  On December 28, 2018, Paul Whelan traveled to Moscow to attend a 
friend's wedding when he was arrested on allegations of spying. Over 
the past 10 months, Mr. Whelan has maintained his innocence as he 
awaits trial, which is expected to start in January of 2020.
  Mr. Whelan suffers from a chronically painful medical condition, 
which requires surgery. Unfortunately, this surgery was scheduled for 
shortly after his return from Moscow in January of 2019. Over the past 
10 months, Mr. Whelan has been living in pain as he has declined to 
have the surgery in Russia.
  This bipartisan, bicameral resolution calls for the Russian 
Federation to immediately release Paul Whelan from his unwarranted 
detainment. Further, it calls for due process and unrestricted access 
to consular services for Mr. Whelan.
  I am proud to cosponsor this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Stevens), the author of this important resolution
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. By 
bringing up my resolution today, H. Res. 552, we are making clear to 
the Russian Government and President Putin that Congress will not 
tolerate the indefinite detention of a U.S. citizen without evidence.
  For nearly 10 months, my constituent, Paul Whelan of Novi, Michigan, 
has been held in a Moscow prison without adequate due process. Paul was 
detained last December and continues to be held in a horrifying prison.
  We have repeatedly asked the Russian Government to provide Paul with 
a fair and transparent judicial process, to no avail. The State 
Department has been unwavering in their work on Paul's behalf, 
especially Ambassador Huntsman.
  The Russian Government has not provided timely updates about Paul's 
case. They have not let him select his own attorney. And they have not 
provided unrestricted consular access. Next week will be Paul's fourth 
pretrial detention hearing. Enough is enough.
  After many months in prison, Paul's health is deteriorating. Paul's 
family is wondering. Everyone is in the dark, but most especially Paul. 
It is long past time that we bring Paul home to his family and get him 
the medical care he needs.
  This bipartisan resolution calls on the Russian Government to provide 
evidence of his wrongdoing or else release Paul immediately. This is 
our sense of Congress. It must be our sense of Congress, for we stand 
up for Americans abroad.
  I thank my friend, Mr. Walberg, for joining me and for the Michigan 
delegation. And I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass 
this timely resolution.
  Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Walberg).
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 552 and 
call on the Russian Government to provide evidence of wrongdoing or to 
release United States citizen Paul Whelan.
  I thank my colleague Congresswoman Haley Stevens for her untiring 
work on this important issue. Paul Whelan is a veteran. He is a 
Michigan resident, who has been held in Russian captivity for nearly 10 
months without charges. And I repeat, he has been held in Russian 
captivity for nearly 10 months without charges.

  Throughout his entire time, Paul has not been given due process. He 
has had multiple pretrial hearings in which his detainment has 
repeatedly been extended without the production of any new or credible 
evidence. While in captivity he has been in need of serious medical 
attention, and his health has deteriorated. It is unacceptable for an 
American citizen to be detained for any length of time without charges 
and without proper medical care.
  Paul's entire family, including his parents who live in my district 
in Manchester, Michigan, are deeply concerned about his health and 
safety, as they should be. I met with members of the Whelan family on 
many occasions, and they have been pillars of strength, but also have 
endured much agony.
  We stand united today saying this is not a partisan issue. It is an 
American issue.
  As Republicans and Democrats we are committed to raising awareness 
about Paul's case and advocating for his freedom. And we stand to send 
a strong and powerful message today by passing this resolution. I 
encourage my colleagues to stand together and pass this resolution and 
tell Russia it is wrong as to what they are doing.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Keating), the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
  Nearly 10 months ago on December 28, 2018, the Government of the 
Russian Federation arrested U.S. citizen Paul Whelan. In those 10 
months, the Russian Government has refused to provide any evidence to 
substantiate the espionage charges against Paul.
  Instead, in those 10 months, the Russian Government has subjected 
Paul to physical and psychological pressure. In those 10 months, the 
Russian Government has repeatedly prevented Paul from speaking freely 
with the U.S. embassy or with his family; rights that are afforded to 
Russian prisoners here in the U.S.
  In those 10 months, the Russian Government has denied Paul's request 
to be examined or treated by a private physician. And I say, Russian 
Government. I say government, because I believe the Russian people, 
particularly those that are speaking up and demonstrating for an open 
and democratic government there, they would be standing with us today.

                              {time}  1730

  For 10 months, the Russian Government has refused to respond to the 
concerns of the Governments of the United States, U.K., Canada, and 
Ireland.
  For 10 months, Paul's continued detention has caused indescribable 
pain and torment not only for Paul but for his parents, his two 
brothers, and his sisters.
  Ten months of injustice is 10 months too long.
  In our committee, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, we look for areas 
of common ground to work with Russia, but actions like this, depriving 
a U.S. citizen of the most basic rights, makes that all the more 
difficult.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Paul, on behalf of his family, I hope all 
Members will join me in supporting H. Res. 552 and calling on the 
Government of Russia to allow a fair and transparent judicial process 
without delay, facilitate Paul's medical care, and allow for 
unrestricted visits with the U.S. Embassy.
  Mr. Speaker, above all, I hope Members will all join with me in 
calling on the Government of Russia to release Paul and send him back 
home to his family.

[[Page H8364]]

  

  Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman has no further speakers, 
I am prepared to close.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Mr. Whelan's family for continuing 
to fight for his release and for bringing this matter to our attention.
  He is a pawn. Russia quite clearly has a terrible track record of 
taking care of people, whether it is bombing hospitals in Syria 
intentionally or whether it is just abusing people in other parts of 
the world--Venezuela--or imprisoning Americans. It is obviously their 
track record.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my Democratic and Republican colleagues to 
support this resolution. I thank the chairman for bringing it up, the 
family for fighting, and everybody who spoke.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume 
for the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, I again thank Representative Stevens for her hard work 
on this measure.
  Paul Whelan, an American citizen, as my colleagues have mentioned, 
has endured mistreatment in a Russian prison without the Russian 
Government offering up any evidence that he has done anything wrong.
  H. Res. 552 calls on the Russian Government to either provide some 
evidence of wrongdoing to explain Mr. Whelan's imprisonment or release 
Mr. Whelan immediately so he can come home to the United States and 
receive the proper medical treatment he so urgently needs. He and his 
family have suffered enough as part of Putin's political games.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for 
their strong support for this resolution. It is a good measure. I urge 
all Members to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 552.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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