[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                BRING NAVY LIEUTENANT RIDGE ALKONIS HOME

  (Mr. LaLOTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of United States 
Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis, who, for the last 365 days, has been 
unjustly jailed by the Japanese Government.
  The State Department and the Department of Defense need to 
demonstrate strength and exercise leverage and bring Ridge home and 
bring him home now.
  America needs to bring Ridge home for justice's sake. America needs 
to bring Ridge home to send a message to the 50,000 troops we have 
stationed in Japan that the brass, bureaucrats, and politicians have 
their backs.
  America needs to bring Ridge home to demonstrate to the Japanese that 
we are the United States of America, the world superpower, and our 
commitment to their defense against China and North Korea comes with a 
few conditions, and one of them is to treat our troops fairly.
  Madam Speaker, our government has negotiated for the release of other 
Americans who have done far less for our great Nation than an Active-
Duty naval officer. America needs to bring Ridge home. A year in prison 
is far too long.

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