# Plain Language Summary: James Wright Foley Memorial Resolution

This resolution is Congress's way of officially remembering James Wright Foley, an American journalist who was murdered ten years ago while being held captive by a terrorist group in Syria. It's not a law that changes anything—it's a formal statement expressing the government's commitment to a particular cause.

The resolution calls on the U.S. government to make it a priority to bring home Americans who are being held captive in other countries, whether by hostile governments or terrorist organizations. It also urges the government to take stronger action to discourage other countries and groups from kidnapping or arbitrarily detaining Americans in the first place. Essentially, Congress is saying this issue deserves serious attention and resources.

For most Americans, this resolution doesn't directly change your daily life or create new laws. However, it signals to the State Department and other government agencies that Congress wants them to focus more energy on negotiating the release of American hostages and finding ways to prevent future kidnappings. It's a way for lawmakers to honor Foley's memory while pushing the executive branch to prioritize these cases. The resolution reflects ongoing concerns about Americans being held abroad and the government's responsibility to work toward their freedom.

A resolution commemorating the tenth anniversary of the murder of James Wright Foley and calling for the moral courage to prioritize the return of Americans held captive abroad and take all necessary efforts to deter international hostage taking and arbitrary detention.

Shaheen, Jeanne

<p>This resolution condemns the practice of wrongfully detaining Americans in order to threaten American sovereignty and recognizes August 19, 2014, as a solemn remembrance of this national security threat. (The American journalist James Wright Foley was killed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] on August 19, 2014.)&nbsp;</p><p>The resolution also states that the Senate (1) stands with all those who have been taken hostage or wrongfully detained, those who have been released, and their families and friends; (2) commends the personnel who have endeavored to recover Americans held captive abroad; (3) prioritizes the return of all innocent U.S. nationals targeted for kidnapping or wrongful detention abroad; and (4) supports efforts to ensure that the U.S. hostage enterprise has proper resources and is authorized to address evolving threats.</p>