[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES OF FORMER HOSTAGES OF THE IRAN HOSTAGE 
                                 CRISIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call upon my fellow Members 
of Congress to support H.R. 1179, which will award the Congressional 
Gold Medal to the survivors of the Iran hostage crisis and to the 
families of the former hostages who are, sadly, no longer with us.
  Over 40 years ago, in November of 1979, protests in the Iranian 
capital of Tehran led to crowds storming the United States Embassy and 
taking the staff inside as hostages. Fifty-two Americans, made up of 
both civilian and military personnel, were made prisoners in our own 
embassy and became victims of a terrorist attack upon international 
law.
  For over a year, the hostages were denied their basic human dignity 
with their captors inflicting upon them increasing physical and 
psychological torture, to include simulated executions. Madam Speaker, 
they would take these hostages and go through the motions of being 
executed, often pulling the trigger of an empty gun to instill fear. It 
was wrong. These brave Americans held strong throughout their harrowing 
ordeal, never once losing faith in each other or that they may return 
home to their families again. Their courage and patriotism are an 
inspiration to all of us today, just as it was to our Nation 40 years 
ago.

  Through diplomatic success, all 52 of the hostages were released in 
January of 1981, free to return home to their loved ones and their 
country, with this January 20 marking the 41st anniversary of their 
freedom. Despite that, many of them have not recovered from their 
trauma; to this day still haunted by what they had to endure. Alongside 
having to carry these burdens for over 40 years, these 52 heroes never 
received proper recognition from their government for the sacrifices 
they were forced to make in captivity. They are true American heroes, 
and it is time that Congress acknowledges them as such, which is why I 
call upon my colleagues to support H.R. 1179. The awarding of the 
Congressional Gold Medal to the survivors and the families of the 
deceased will not only bring justice to these patriots, but also 
demonstrate this Nation's commitment to protect those whose human 
rights would be violated.
  This bipartisan bill is a symbol of our Nation's ability to come 
together to honor our heroes; currently there are 145 cosponsors of 
this bill with a near even split between Democrats and Republicans.
  Additionally, I would like to thank the tremendous efforts of 
Commission 52 for helping to spread awareness of this bill and 
gathering support for it. Their commitment to righting the wrongs of 
over 40 years ago is an inspiration to all.

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