Bill Text: PA HR450 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing the release and safe return of Josh F. Fattal and Shane M. Bauer from Iran to the United States, commending the captives for their forbearance and equanimity, and pronouncing gratitude to all who supported their release, especially the State of Oman.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-12)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-10-12 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HR450 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR450-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2528
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 450 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY CURRY, ADOLPH, B. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, GEIST, GEORGE, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLARD, M. O'BRIEN, READSHAW, SAINATO, SHAPIRO, STABACK, WATSON, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, JOSEPHS, HESS, DENLINGER AND HARHART, OCTOBER 12, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 12, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the release and safe return of Josh F. Fattal and
Shane M. Bauer from Iran to the United States, commending the
captives for their forbearance and equanimity, and
pronouncing gratitude to all who supported their release,
especially the State of Oman.
WHEREAS, Shane Bauer, Josh Battal and Sarah Shourd intended
to spend five days visiting the Northern Iraq area on visas from
Turkey, beginning on July 28, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Shane Bauer is a freelance journalist raised in
Onamia, Minnesota, and a graduate of the University of
California, Berkeley, with a degree in Peace and Conflict
Studies; and
WHEREAS, Shane was previously living in Damascus, Syria, and
had his writings and photographs published in the United States,
United Kingdom, Middle East and Canada; and
WHEREAS, Josh Fattal is an environmental activist from Elkins
Park, Pennsylvania; and
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WHEREAS, In 2004, Josh graduated from the University of
California, Berkeley, with a degree in Environmental Economics
from the College of Natural Resources; and
WHEREAS, Josh worked at the Aprovecho Research Center in
Cottage Grove, Oregon, where he taught sustainable living
skills, in addition to taking part in a teaching fellowship
program with the International Honors Program "Health and
Community" Study Program in Switzerland, India, China and South
Africa; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Shourd was living in Damascus, Syria, prior to
the detainment and was teaching as part of the Iraqi Student
Project in Damascus; and
WHEREAS, Shane, Josh and Sarah were detained on July 31,
2009, after crossing the Iran border near Kurdistan and the
Ahmed Awa Waterfall of Northern Iraq; and
WHEREAS, All three individuals were accused and convicted of
espionage and were sentenced to eight years in prison; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Shourd was released on a $500,000 bail 410
days after her captivation due to medical reasons; and
WHEREAS, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal remained in isolation
during most of their imprisonment and were provided with only 15
minutes of phone calls to their families; and
WHEREAS, The men were not given the letters sent by their
family members; and
WHEREAS, Shane and Josh were released to an official from the
Persian Gulf State of Oman after 781 days of imprisonment at the
Tehran's Evin Prison on combined bail of $1 million posted by
Oman; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
release and safe return of Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer to their
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families in the United States, commend the captives for their
forbearance and equanimity, and pronounce gratitude to all who
supported their release, especially the State of Oman.
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