1Urging the President of the United States and the Federal
2Government to take every necessary step to secure the release
3of United States Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi from Mexican
4custody.

5WHEREAS, On March 31, 2014, United States Marine Sgt. Andrew
6Tahmooressi was arrested by Mexican authorities after mistakenly
7crossing into Mexican territory; and

8WHEREAS, Prior to his arrest, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi moved
9to San Diego, California, in order to receive treatment from the
10United States Veterans Affairs Medical Center – San Diego in La
11Jolla, California; and

12WHEREAS, While driving on March 31, Sgt. Tahmooressi placed
13an emergency call to 911 after realizing he had mistakenly
14crossed the border into Mexico after taking a wrong turn; and

15WHEREAS, Sgt. Tahmooressi informed the 911 dispatcher that he
16had three legally registered guns in his possession because he
17kept everything he owned in his Ford F-150 truck; and

1WHEREAS, He spent the first few days of his detention in La
2Mesa prison, where he was repeatedly threatened by prison gang
3members; and

4WHEREAS, He was moved to a Federal prison in El Hongo, where
5he was separated from other prisoners in a private cell; and

6WHEREAS, He has spent nearly 90 days in prison waiting for a
7hearing, which can take an additional 180 days to be
8adjudicated; and

9WHEREAS, Sgt. Tahmooressi faces up to 10 years in prison if
10he is convicted of possessing weapons and ammunition; and

11WHEREAS, Sgt. Tahmooressi is a United States Marine reservist
12who served two combat tours in Afghanistan, for which he was
13awarded a meritorious promotion; and

14WHEREAS, Sgt. Tahmooressi suffered a severe concussion after
15an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated and upended his
16vehicle; and

17WHEREAS, Sgt. Tahmooressi has been diagnosed with post-
18traumatic stress disorder; and

19WHEREAS, Several attempts have been, and continue to be, made
20to convince the Mexican authorities to release Sgt. Andrew
21Tahmooressi; therefore be it

22RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
23Commonwealth of Pennsylvania express its profound desire that
24the United States do everything possible to ensure that Sgt.
25Tahmooressi is given immediate access to the proper health care
26he deserves as a combat veteran; and be it further

27RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
28Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly urge the President of the
29United States to take every necessary step to secure Sgt.
30Tahmooressi's release from Mexican custody; and be it further

1RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
2the President of the United States.