The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“BRING DANNY FENSTER HOME” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H2802 on June 15.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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BRING DANNY FENSTER HOME
(Mr. LEVIN of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise to mark 3 weeks since my constituent, Danny Fenster--pictured here--was captured and imprisoned by the Burmese military simply for doing his job as a journalist, 22 days spent on the phone and with my arms wrapped around his traumatized but determined family, upwards of 500 hours reading our community's outpouring of comments about Danny's dignity and his career of standing up for people around the world.
I have called on ambassadors all throughout the region. I have called on our own State Department to ask why, what is the justification for our Embassy not having access to our citizen? And they have no reason.
It is a violation of international law, and it is a violation of human rights.
The U.S. Embassy needs access to Danny while we keep fighting for his immediate and unconditional release and to protect the freedom of the press.
I will not stop fighting and our community will not stop fighting until we bring Danny home.
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