New bill would compensate returned political hostages like Paul Whelan

“Reintegration should not stop at the airport,” Stevens said, describing Whelan’s experience returning home without a place to live or his former job after five and a half years of lost earnings.

“This is a very solid piece of legislation that brings some dignity to the people who I believe are American heroes.”

Stevens said the goal is to establish “a transparent and objective formula” recognizing the economic consequences of wrongful detention, including time taken away from a person’s career and livelihood.