US lawmakers unveil American hostage task force
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) announced the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad, a bipartisan working group aimed at helping the families of detained US citizens.
Members of Congress on Thursday announced a dedicated working group aimed at helping Americans unjustly held by hostile governments and terrorist organizations.
On Thursday, Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and French Hill (R-Ark.) announced the launch of the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad, which will serve as a resource for families and former hostages.
“It’s only through a comprehensive and all of government approach with Congress and with the administration working together that we can bring Americans home, take care of those affected families and disincentivize those corrupt government and non-state actors that would take an American hostage,” Hill said at an event unveiling the task force.
Hill represents the family of former Arkansas resident Majd Kamalmaz, who along with journalist Austin Tice, is believed to be held by the Syrian regime or allied forces. In February 2017, the psychotherapist was stopped at a government checkpoint near Damascus and hasn’t been heard from since.
