[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 6, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AWARDING THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO THE 52 HOSTAGES OF THE IRAN 
                             HOSTAGE CRISIS

  (Mr. SUOZZI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I am joined in the gallery today by six 
former hostages and the families of 11 former hostages who are here to 
represent the 52 former hostages who were taken by Iranian student 
militants when they stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 
1979.
  I rise today in support of my bipartisan, bicameral legislation that 
would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 52 hostages of the Iran 
hostage crisis who were released after 444 days of captivity over 40 
years ago.
  As it currently stands, almost 300 Members of this Chamber have 
pledged their support for this legislation--a showing of true 
bipartisanship in an oftentimes divided Chamber.
  Despite mock firing squads, beatings, solitary confinement, lack of 
food, and psychological torture, these American hostages maintained 
their strength, resilience, and loyalty to their country. I was 17 
years old in 1979, and I remember well--as many Americans do and many 
in this Chamber do--that the Iran hostage crisis was a painful time in 
our history. But that pain cannot stop us from recognizing the true 
pain and sacrifice by these special Americans.
  On behalf of the entire Congress, I give special thanks to Brock 
Pierce, the chairman of Commission 52, and Ezra Friedlander, the 
project manager, for helping gather support for this bill. It is a true 
public service.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of this bill as soon as it is 
passed in the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, let's give a round of applause to these folks who have 
joined us here today.

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