[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2356-S2357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Remembering Itay Chen

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today, I am heartbroken to learn that 19-
year-old fellow Brooklynite Itay Chen was killed on October 7 at the 
brutal hands of Hamas terrorists who still cruelly hold on to his 
remains.
  Itay was serving with the IDF as a U.S.-Israeli citizen and was 
stationed near the Gaza border on the day of Hamas's terrorist attack.
  I spoke to Itay's family earlier today to say all of Brooklyn--and 
all of Maryland--mourns the loss of their son, and I told them we will 
work relentlessly to make sure their son's body comes home.
  I first met Itay's family in Israel, just a few days after October 7, 
when I went quickly to go to Israel to express solidarity after that 
awful attack, and I have spoken to the Chen family many times since.
  Over time, I have gotten to know them, and I feel like I have also 
gotten to know a little bit of what Itay was like by hearing it through 
his father, his mother, and his brothers.

[[Page S2357]]

  Itay's father Ruby has been one of the leading advocates for the 
return of the hostages. He has traveled to every corner of the world 
and has met with some of the highest ranking leaders in the world to 
say: Bring them home. Bring them home now.
  Itay's father requested me to ``please get his body back.'' I will do 
everything I can to make it happen. The family is not going to sit 
Shiva and observe formal Jewish burial practices until they recover 
Itay's body.
  The family also expresses their thanks to the Biden administration 
and to the FBI for helping them get through these difficult months.
  I will continue working with the Chen family, the administration, and 
others to return Itay's body back to his family so they can have the 
burial and Shiva in the way they desire and deserve.
  When I spoke to Itay's father just a couple of hours ago, he promised 
me that the family would continue to fight for the release of all the 
other hostages. That was such an act. In the moment of their darkness, 
of clouds descending upon them, to still have that fortitude, that 
strength, that generosity to say they are going to fight for others 
touched my heart.
  I will be working with the administration however possible until we 
finally bring back every last hostage and the remains of the hostages 
who are no longer with us are home at last.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.