"Like any parents living through the nightmare of a missing child, Zachary's parents, Yona and Miriam, have been unrelenting in the search for their son. The Baumels have met with officials around the world to follow up on leads...of Zachary's whereabouts. Unfortunately they have yet to reach any sort of closure. While I sincerely hope that their personal search reunites them with Zachary, I believe that the United States Government should make every effort to determine Zachary's fate and help bring peace to the Baumel family. H.R. 1175...is a step in that direction...I have cosponsored this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support me in this effort."

"Since June of 1982, the world has heard nothing from Zachary Baumel. Mr Speaker this is a cruel fate indeed. Zachary Baumel's parents have to live with their son's missing in action status, knowing full well that he may be alive and well in some prison cell in Lebanon or Syria...It is for this reason, to end the suffering of the Baumel family and to restore their son to their care, that this bill has been introduced...This is a worthy cause and I urge my colleagues to support this important measure."

"The United States has a unique responsibility to ensure the security of Israel, a steadfast ally and a strategic partner in democracy. The United States also has an unquestionable responsibility to secure the well-being of its citizens when possible, no matter where they may be located. Zachery Baumel is an American citizen...Five years have passed since the Gaza-Jericho agreement and Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Tzvi Feldman are still missing. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill."

"The Bill makes a simple request of the President, that when he is considering whether or not to provide economic assistance to these countries, that he weigh and measure the willingness of these governments and authorities to assist in locating and securing the release of these men...Mr. Speaker, the family of Zachary Baumel has been through incredible pain and uncertainty for these past seventeen years. Their hopes have been lifted in key times of negotiation, such as the Oslo Accords - yet to no avail...It is time that our country take another real and substantive step...These young men and their families deserve no less."