[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 14, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  OPPOSITION TO H.R. 3202, THE ASSAD REGIME ANTI-NORMALIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2023

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                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2024

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make clear why I 
voted in opposition to H.R. 3202--The Assad Regime Anti-Normalization 
Act of 2023. By way of background, I have in my district the family of 
journalist Austin Tice, a former Marine Corps Captain who was captured 
in Syria in 2012. Since that time this family has been working with me, 
other members of Congress, multiple presidential administrations, and 
the Assad regime to secure the release of their son from captivity. Mr. 
Tice was abducted in Syria by an unknown group while reporting on the 
conflict as a freelance journalist. While the Assad regime has not 
claimed responsibility, the State Department has indicated that they 
believe Tice is being held by the regime or its allies.
  My opposition to this legislation stems from the appeal of Austin's 
family. It is their understanding that saving the life of their son 
requires engagement with the Assad regime, exactly the kind of 
engagement that this legislation would prohibit. Let me be absolutely 
clear, Bashar al-Assad is an illegitimate war criminal who has 
brutalized the citizens of Syria and caused immeasurable harm. I 
believe our Nation should take all reasonable steps to stymie the goals 
of this regime, saving steps that will harm captives like Marine Corps 
Captain Austin Tice and other U.S. nationals held in Syria.

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