U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Mike Crapo, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released a statement on May 7 marking Hostage Week and urging action to free Stephen Hubbard, an Idaho-connected man detained in Russia.
The senators said the week serves as a reminder that Americans held abroad are not forgotten. “This Hostage Week, Americans across the country come together to send a unified message to those who are wrongfully detained around the world: we have not forgotten you and we never will,” Risch and Crapo said.
They highlighted the case of Stephen Hubbard, describing him as “being detained without cause in a Russian prison.” The senators said Hubbard is 74 years old, in declining health, and has family in Idaho. They pledged continued efforts for his release: “We will do everything in our power to ensure his release, including working alongside the Administration to punish Russia and other bad actors who take Americans hostage. Through penalties under the Countering Wrongful Detention Act, we will show these nations that Americans aren’t to be messed with abroad, used for hostage diplomacy, or any other evil cause. This practice must end.”
Risch and Crapo also thanked advocates visiting Washington during Hostage Week: “We thank all hostage and wrongful detention advocates who took the time to visit Washington this week to advocate for their loved ones’ release. We stand with you. We look forward to shaking the hands of Mr. Hubbard and other wrongful detainees on that happy future day when they are released, but until then we will continue our work.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee focuses on developing U.S. foreign policy through examining treaties and legislation; it was established in 1816 as one of the original standing committees of the Senate; it has shaped policy by supporting measures like the Truman Doctrine in 1947 while also rejecting agreements such as the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920; its Chairman leads majority members while its Ranking Member heads minority members; it operates within government as a legislative body focused on international relations according to its official website.
