Bill Text: NJ AR161 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges President of the United States to secure release from Mexico of Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-18 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR161 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR161-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Space
SYNOPSIS
Urges President of the United States to secure release from Mexico of Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the President of the United States to secure the release from Mexico of Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi.
Whereas, Andrew Tahmooressi is a 25-year-old American and former United States Marine Sergeant who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, receiving an honorable discharge in 2012; and
Whereas, Following his service to our nation, Sergeant Tahmooressi was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); and
Whereas, Sergeant Tahmooressi moved to San Diego, California, to receive treatment for PTSD and while driving on March 31, 2014, he mistakenly crossed the border into Mexico; and
Whereas, Sergeant Tahmooressi was arrested at the United States-Mexican border on March 31, 2014, and charged with weapons trafficking because he had three legally registered guns in his possession, and he is still being held in prison in Mexico; and
Whereas, PTSD can result in hyper-vigilance, memory and cognition lapses, and depression, and Sergeant Tahmooressi's reported actions of aggression and physical self-abuse while in prison may be manifestations of his PTSD; and
Whereas, Sergeant Tahmooressi's immediate release would allow him to enroll in medical treatment at a clinic specializing in combat-related PTSD in the United States; and
Whereas, The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey urges the President of the United States to secure the release of Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi from prison in Mexico; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the President of the United States to utilize the full powers and authorities of his office to immediately secure the release of United States Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi from Mexican custody to the United States.
2. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey respectfully calls for a delegation of Congressional and State Department representatives, the Red Cross and American medical professionals to meet with Sergeant Tahmooressi to assess his physical and emotional well-being while the details of his immediate release are being negotiated.
3. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey respectfully requests that if Sergeant Tahmooressi's immediate release does not occur, the United States impose economic sanctions, including travel restrictions, against the Mexican government.
4. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President of the United States, Secretary of State John Kerry, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, and the United States Ambassador to Mexico.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges the President of the United States to secure the release of former Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi from prison in Mexico.
Andrew Tahmooressi is a 25-year-old American and former United States Marine Sergeant who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, receiving an honorable discharge in 2012. Following his service, Sergeant Tahmooressi was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He later moved to San Diego, California, to receive treatment for PTSD and while driving on March 31, 2014, he mistakenly crossed the border into Mexico with three legally registered guns in his possession. Sergeant Tahmooressi was arrested and charged with weapons trafficking, and is still being held in prison in Mexico. Sergeant Tahmooressi's immediate release would allow him to enroll in medical treatment at a clinic specializing in combat-related PTSD.
