H. Res. 17 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

December 3, 2020. 

Whereas Austin Tice is a 39-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; 

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; 
2 

•HRES 17 EH 

Whereas in the years 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 being held in Syria and that the Syrian government 

should assist in locating and returning Austin to his family; 

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; 

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; 

Whereas, on November 18, 2018, then-United States Special 

Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Robert O’Brien, 

said that the United States Government believes Austin 

Tice is alive; 
3 

•HRES 17 EH 

Whereas at a press briefing on March 19, 2020, President 

Trump expressed concern for Austin and called on the 

Syrian government to release him; 

Whereas Majd Kamalmaz is a 62-year old Syrian-American 

psychotherapist, father of four, and resident of Texas; 

Whereas Majd is a well-known mental-health professional 

with experience in disaster relief and post-traumatic care; 

Whereas in February 2017 Majd traveled to Syria to visit an 

elderly family member and aid civilians traumatized by 

the Syrian civil war; 

Whereas on February 16, 2017 Majd’s family received word 

that he had been detained at a checkpoint on his way to 

Ghouta, outside of Damascus, Syria; 

Whereas since February 2017 Majd’s family has not heard 

from him; 

Whereas the Syrian government has never publicly acknowledged detaining Majd; 

Whereas Majd’s family and the Syrian-American community 

have advocated tirelessly for his immediate release; 

Whereas in July 2020, United States Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger 

Carstens publicly stated, ‘‘The U.S. Government is in frequent contact with the Kamalmaz family to provide support and information’’ and that ‘‘Bringing home Majd, 

along with all U.S. citizens held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, has the attention of the highest levels in 

the U.S. government.’’; and 

Whereas, as described in the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection 

Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note), Congress calls on the 

regime of Bashar al-Assad to release all political pris-
4 

•HRES 17 EH 

oners forcibly held within its prison system and to allow 

access to the same facilities for investigations by appropriate international human rights organizations: Now, 

therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) expresses its ongoing concern regarding the capture of Austin Tice in August 2012 and Majd Kamalmaz 

in February 2017, and their continuing detention; 

(2) encourages the Department of State, the intelligence community, and the interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell to jointly continue investigations and to 

pursue all possible information regarding Austin and 

Majd’s detention; 

(3) encourages the Department of State and the 

Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs to engage 

the Syrian government to facilitate Austin and Majd’s 

safe release and return; 

(4) encourages the Department of State to work 

with foreign governments known to have diplomatic influence with the Syrian government; and 

(5) requests that the Department of State and the 

intelligence community continue to work with and inform 

Congress and the families of Austin Tice and Majd 

Kamalmaz to the extent possible regarding efforts to se-
5 

•HRES 17 EH 

cure their safe release and return from detention in 

Syria. 

Attest: 

Clerk.