[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE INCREDIBLE AND HEROIC ADVOCACY OF ELIZABETH WHELAN

  (Ms. STEVENS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible 
and heroic advocacy of Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of my wrongfully 
detained constituent, U.S. citizen, and Michigander, Paul Whelan.
  Paul Whelan is the longest detained American in Russia. Since his 
detention in December 2018, Elizabeth has been his fiercest advocate 
and tireless champion, alongside her brother, David; and parents, 
Rosemary and Ed.
  Elizabeth has spent nearly $100,000 of her own money in the last 5 
years to travel to D.C. to meet with political leaders and State 
Department officials to receive updates on Paul's case, and fight for 
his release.
  Yesterday, speaking at the United Nations, alongside U.S. Ambassador 
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Elizabeth directly confronted Russia's 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, and implored him to release 
Paul and to end their cruel practice of hostage diplomacy.
  Elizabeth's speech has reverberated around the world. It has made its 
way to Paul's prison camp in Mordovia.
  I have been honored to work with Elizabeth for many years and she 
will always serve as an inspiration to me and my staff.
  Her words yesterday speak for themselves: ``Paul has not committed a 
crime, but a crime has been committed against him.''

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