IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 17 

Expressing concern over the detention of Austin Tice, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2019 

Mr. GREEN of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Permanent 

Select Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing concern over the detention of Austin Tice, and 

for other purposes. 

Whereas Austin Tice is a 37-year-old veteran, having served 

in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer, a Georgetown 

law student, and a graduate of Georgetown University, 

from Houston, Texas; 

Whereas Austin is an Eagle Scout, National Merit Scholarship finalist, and eldest of seven children; 

Whereas Austin was a contributing freelance journalist to 

McClatchy Newspapers, the Washington Post and other 

media outlets and a recipient of the 2012 George Polk 

Award for War Reporting; 


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•HRES 17 IH 

Whereas, in May 2012, Austin crossed the Turkey-Syria border to report on the intensifying conflict in Syria; 

Whereas, on August 11, 2012, Austin celebrated his 31st 

birthday in Darayaa, Syria; 

Whereas, on August 14, 2012, Austin departed for Beirut, 

Lebanon, was detained at a checkpoint near Damascus, 

Syria, and contact with family, friends, and colleagues 

ceased; 

Whereas, in late September 2012, a video clip appeared on 

YouTube showing Austin blindfolded and being prodded 

up a hillside by masked militants; 

Whereas in the more than 2,300 days since Austin’s disappearance, no group has claimed responsibility for his 

capture; 

Whereas the Syrian government has never acknowledged detaining Austin and has denied the same to Austin’s parents; 

Whereas officials of the United States believe Austin is alive 

and the government of Bashar al-Assad or a group affiliated with it is holding him; 

Whereas Austin Tice’s parents, Marc and Debra Tice, have 

been diligent in their efforts to find their son, repeatedly 

meeting with senior officials of the United States Government, the Syrian government, the United Nations, and 

many others; 

Whereas the Tices have traveled to the Middle East multiple 

times, most recently in December 2018, seeking Austin’s 

safe release, and Debra Tice spent four months living in 

Damascus, Syria, for the same purpose; 


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•HRES 17 IH 

Whereas the Tices have partnered with Reporters Without 

Borders to launch campaigns with nearly 270 newspapers 

and media organizations, highlighting Austin’s case in 

their publications and on their websites; 

Whereas institutions and organizations including Georgetown 

University, Georgetown Law Center, the National Press 

Club, the Committee to Protect Journalists, McClatchy, 

and the Washington Post have collaborated to raise and 

maintain public awareness of Austin’s detention; and 

Whereas, on November 13, 2016, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Robert C. O’Brien, 

said that the United States Government believes Austin 

Tice is alive: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its ongoing concern regarding the 

3 capture of Austin Tice near Damascus, Syria, in Au4 gust 2012, and his continuing detention; 

5 (2) encourages the Department of State, the in6 telligence community, and the interagency Hostage 

7 Recovery Fusion Cell to jointly continue investiga8 tions and to pursue all possible information regard9 ing Austin’s detention; 

10 (3) encourages the Department of State and 

11 the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs 

12 to engage directly with officials of the Syrian gov13 ernment to facilitate Austin’s safe release and re14 turn; 


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•HRES 17 IH 

1 (4) encourages the Department of State to 

2 work with foreign governments known to have diplo3 matic influence with the Government of Syria; and 

4 (5) requests that the Department of State and 

5 the intelligence community continue to work with 

6 and inform Congress and the family of Austin Tice 

7 regarding efforts to secure Austin’s safe release and 

8 return from detention in Syria. 

Æ 


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