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WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Days after the release of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner from imprisonment in Russia, Democratic and Republican U.S. lawmakers will introduce legislation on Tuesday to establish March 9 as an annual day to remember Americans detained abroad.
The bill, according to text seen by Reuters, seeks to make March 9 "National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day," to call increased attention to Americans unjustly held abroad and add urgency to the push to bring them home.
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The Whelan family is focused on positive news and gratitude.
Some of that is renewed interest in the plight of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, arrested nearly four years ago in Russia and convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He has denied the charges.
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A bipartisan group of lawmakers in both chambers introduced legislation that would establish an annual “National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day,” a move that comes days after Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner.
LATE ON TUESDAY morning, aboard Air Force One, President Joe Biden’s tie was loose and his blazer was off. In the conference room at the back of the plane, Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona stood up and pressed for an urgent answer: When was Brittney Griner coming home?
Washington, DC– Today, the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad Co-Chairs Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) and Rep. French Hill (AR-2) released the following statement in response to Brittney Griner’s release:
Washington, DC– Today, Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11), a Member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, celebrates the passage of H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act. The Respect for Marriage Act repeals the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, protects marriage equality for federal purposes, and provides additional protections at the state level.
Washington — For the second time this year, the family of Michigan's Paul Whelan was left "devastated" that Russia agreed to swap an American prisoner for the return of a Russian inmate, and that, again, that American wasn't Paul.
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U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democrat who represents Whelan in Congress, said Thursday she's still hopeful and not giving up after speaking to the White House.
(WXYZ) — It’s been nearly 4 years since Paul Whelan was last his home in Novi.
Today, with the news that another American has been released from Russia without him, he says he’s disappointed with the Biden administration.
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Haley Stevens is Paul’s Representative in Congress and the new co-chair of the Congressional task force on American hostages and Americans wrongfully detained abroad.
We asked her what the U.S. could still do.
WXYZ’s Brian Abel asked, “What leverage does the U.S. have at this point to negotiate with? What’s left?”
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Robert Cholette of Troy was experiencing issues with the IRS. My office was able to help him get his return and avoid losing his home.