[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 108 (Friday, June 24, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF BRITTNEY GRINER, A CITIZEN OF THE 
  UNITED STATES, WHO WAS WRONGFULLY DETAINED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 
                  RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN FEBRUARY 2022

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the adoption of House Resolution 
1204, H. Res. 1132 is hereby adopted.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1132

       Whereas United States citizen Brittney Griner is a Women's 
     National Basketball Association (WNBA) player;
       Whereas Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle, are 
     residents of Phoenix, Arizona, and are well-respected leaders 
     in the community;
       Whereas Brittney Griner was raised in Houston, Texas, and 
     many of her family members live in Texas;
       Whereas after a prolific collegiate career at her alma 
     mater, Baylor University, Brittney Griner was the first 
     overall pick in the 2013 WNBA by the Phoenix Mercury and has 
     played her entire WNBA career with the team;
       Whereas during her WNBA career, Brittney Griner has been 
     named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year twice and a WNBA 
     All-Star seven times;
       Whereas Brittney Griner has represented the United States 
     on the women's basketball team twice and earned two Olympic 
     Gold Medals;
       Whereas Brittney Griner is also an international figure and 
     has played for the Russian women's professional basketball 
     team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, for the past seven years during the 
     WNBA off-season;
       Whereas Brittney Griner is a renowned leader in the LGBTQ+ 
     community;
       Whereas Brittney Griner has made a difference in the lives 
     of many Arizonans, including through her annual ``BG's Heart 
     and Sole Shoe Drive'' to provide shoes to those experiencing 
     homelessness in the Phoenix community;
       Whereas Brittney Griner's efforts have provided shoes to 
     nearly 2,000 Phoenix-area residents in need;
       Whereas the Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Rescue Mission 
     are continuing this important effort in Brittney Griner's 
     absence;
       Whereas Brittney Griner was presumably detained by Russian 
     authorities at Sheremetyevo Alexander S. Pushkin 
     International Airport in Khimki, Russia, on February 17, 
     2022, accused of carrying vape cartridges with hashish oil;
       Whereas Russian authorities opened a criminal case against 
     Brittney Griner regarding the alleged transportation of 
     drugs, which can carry a sentence of up to 10 years;
       Whereas, on March 17, 2022, a Russian court denied a 
     request for bail and for house arrest, and has since extended 
     Brittney Griner's detention until June 18, 2022; and
       Whereas the Department of State has determined that 
     Brittney Griner is ``wrongfully detained'': Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     immediately release Brittney Griner;
       (2) urges the United States, in all interactions with the 
     Government of the Russian Federation, to raise the case of 
     Brittney Griner and to press for her release;
       (3) expresses continued support for Paul Whelan and all 
     prisoners unjustly imprisoned in the Russian Federation;
       (4) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     provide consular access to Brittney Griner while she remains 
     in detention;
       (5) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     respect the human rights of Brittney Griner; and
       (6) expresses support to the family of Brittney Griner and 
     a commitment to bringing her home.

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