SRES 85 — A resolution calling on the Government of Iran to fulfill repeated promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history.
Last action — Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2015-2016; text: CR S2015-2016)
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
10 added · 27 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendment adds specific details about the timeline of Robert Levinson's disappearance and includes the recognition of March 9, 2017, as the 10-year anniversary of that event. It also removes previous text that referred to efforts for the release of certain individuals held by Iran and comments on the lack of meaningful diplomatic results in locating Levinson. This change clarifies the focus on Levinson's case and the acknowledgment of the passage of time since his disappearance, making the resolution more pointed in its purpose.
85 ReportedAgreed into Senate (RS)](ATS)] <DOC> Calendar115th No.CONGRESS 2d Session S.
355 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
Corker, with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble [OmitApril the9, part2018 struckConsidered, throughamended, and insertagreed theto partwith printedan inamended italic] [Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Calling on the Government of Iran to fulfill repeated promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history.
Whereas,Whereas after traveling to Kish Island and checking into the Hotel Maryam, Robert Levinson disappeared on March 9, 2007;
Whereas,Whereas in December 2007, Robert Levinson's wife, Christine, traveled to Kish Island to retrace Mr.
Whereas,Whereas in November 2010, the Levinson family received a video of Mr.
Whereas,Whereas in April 2011, the Levinson family received a series of pictures of Mr.
Whereas, on January 19, 2016, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated that the United States Government had ``secured a commitment from the Iranians to use the channel that has now been opened to secure the release of those individuals that we know were being held by Iran .
to try and gather information about Mr.
Levinson's possible whereabouts'';
Whereas the Government of Iran's most recent commitment to assist in and the diplomatic channel dedicated to locating and returning Bob Levinson have not yielded any meaningful results;
Whereas, on November 23, 2016, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) issued Opinion No.
50/2016, concerning Robert Levinson in which the UNWGAD found Iran responsible for the arbitrary detention of Mr.
Levinson;
Whereas, on November 26, 2013, Mr.
Levinson became the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history;
and Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to offer a $5,000,000 reward for information leading to Mr.
Levinson's safe return:
Now, therefore, be it Whereas United States citizen Robert Levinson is a retired agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a resident of Coral Springs, Florida, the husband of Christine Levinson, father of their seven children, and grandfather of their six grandchildren;
Whereas Robert Levinson traveled from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Kish Island, Iran, on March 8, 2007;
Whereas, after traveling to Kish Island and checking into the Hotel Maryam, Robert Levinson disappeared on March 9, 2007;
Whereas, in December 2007, Robert Levinson's wife, Christine, traveled to Kish Island to retrace Mr.
Levinson's steps and met with officials of the Government of Iran who pledged to help in the investigation;
Whereas for 10 years, the United States Government has continually pressed the Government of Iran to provide any information on the whereabouts of Robert Levinson and to help ensure his prompt and safe return to his family;
Whereas officials of the Government of Iran promised their continued assistance to the relatives of Robert Levinson during the visit of the family to the Islamic Republic of Iran in December 2007;
Whereas, in November 2010, the Levinson family received a video of Mr.
Levinson in captivity, representing the first proof of life since his disappearance and providing some initial indications that he was being held somewhere in southwest Asia;
Whereas, in April 2011, the Levinson family received a series of pictures of Mr.
Levinson, which provided further indications that he was being held somewhere in southwest Asia;
Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry stated on August 28, 2013, ``The United States respectfully asks the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to work cooperatively with us in our efforts to help U.S.
citizen Robert Levinson.'';
Whereas, on September 28, 2013, during the first direct phone conversation between the heads of governments of the United States and Iran since 1979, President Barack Obama raised the case of Robert Levinson to President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and urged the President of Iran to help locate Mr.
Levinson and reunite him with his family;
Whereas, on August 29, 2014, Secretary of State Kerry again stated that the United States ``respectfully request[s] the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran work cooperatively with us to find Mr.
Levinson and bring him home'';
Whereas, on January 16, 2016, the Government of Iran released five United States citizens detained in Iran;
Whereas, on January 17, 2016, President Obama stated that ``even as we rejoice in the safe return of others, we will never forget about Bob,'' referring to Robert Levinson, and that ``each and every day but especially today our hearts are with the Levinson family and we will never rest until their family is whole again'';
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes that March 9, 2017, marks marked 10 years since the disappearance of Robert Levinson from Kish Island, Iran;
Calendar<all> No.
355 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
Show all 43 changed lines (3 more)
RES.
85 _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Calling on the Government of Iran to fulfill repeated promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history.
_______________________________________________________________________ March 20, 2018 Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble
Show all 43 changed rows (3 more)
View plain text versions (3)
- Agreed to Senate View text Current html April 09, 2018
- Reported Reported to Senate html March 20, 2018
- Introduced Introduced in Senate html March 09, 2017
Action History
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Introduced in Senate
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Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1749-1750)
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Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
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Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
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Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 355.
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Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2015-2016; text: CR S2015-2016)
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Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2015-2016; text: CR S2015-2016)
Sponsors
- Bill Nelson · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Nelson, Bill Democratic
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (546)
546 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 546 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SRES 85?
- SRES 85 is sponsored by Nelson, Bill (Democratic).
- What is the current status of SRES 85?
- This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SRES 85?
- Track SRES 85 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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