Biden urged to update senators on efforts to rescue Austin Tice from Syria

Rare bipartisan agreement among senators on both sides of the aisle urged President Biden to direct his administration to update the upper chamber on efforts to free Austin Tice from Syria by Dec. 20.

An email, obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital, was sent to the White House by Senators John Cornyn and Chris Van Hollen, urging Biden to take immediate action in Syria and bring Tice back home.

The fall of the Assad regime and the changing dynamics in Syria present a critical opportunity to secure Austin's release and bring him home to his family, as stated in a letter signed by 34 senators.

The letter commended the comments made by both Biden and his national security advisor Jake Sullivan regarding Tice's return being a "top priority" amid the rebel takeover of Damascus. However, lawmakers are seeking further information on the specific actions being taken to ensure his release.

The FBI and the State Department's Rewards for Justice program are both offering significant rewards for information about Tice's location. The FBI is offering up to $1 million, while the State Department's program is offering $10 million.

The United States is intensely working to locate Austin Tice and reunite him with his loved ones, as stated by Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, on Monday evening.

The renewed efforts to connect U.S. officials with on-the-ground sources who may have information on Tice's whereabouts have been intensified.

On Monday, ABC's "Good Morning America" reported that the US was collaborating with partners in Turkey through clandestine communications with individuals in Syria who might possess information about Tice's prison location. The State Department also disclosed that hostage-affairs envoy Roger Carstens had been employing a comparable outreach strategy in Beirut.

On Sunday, the fall of the Assad regime renewed hope for Tice's return, as he is still assessed to be alive despite his 2012 capture in Damascus and unknown condition. Rebel groups have recently freed men, women, and children held in Syria's notorious prisons.

The letter written by Cronyn and Van Hollen emphasized the need for our government to urgently launch an effort to secure Austin's release. As a cherished son, brother, Eagle Scout, journalist, and veteran, Austin embodies the best of our nation and deserves the utmost support from our government in bringing him home.

The administration is encouraged to work with Congress to return the hostage to his family and utilize all available means to discourage the hostage taking of American citizens.