WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Senator Bob Casey joined with colleagues in the House and Senate to introduce a bipartisan concurrent resolution calling for the immediate release of Marc Fogel. Fogel is a U.S. citizen and career educator who Russia has imprisoned since August 2021 for carrying roughly half an ounce of medical marijuana, for which he had a medical prescription. The resolution urges the Biden Administration to prioritize securing the release of Mr. Fogel—an Oakmont resident and constituent of Rep. Deluzio’s—as well as all other U.S. citizens and permanent residents who Russia has wrongfully detained.

Other bipartisan co-sponsors of the House and Senate include, Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Dan Meuser (R-PA-09), Mike Thompson (R-PA-15), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01), and Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Jon Tester (D-MT), and John Fetterman (D-PA).

“We cannot sit by while Putin’s Russia plays political games with the lives of Americans like my Western Pennsylvania constituent Marc Fogel,” said Representative Deluzio. “Marc faces unjust and disproportionate charges for possession of his legally prescribed medical marijuana. Further, I am concerned that he is living in abysmal and harsh conditions that could threaten his health. We have got to bring Marc home. I am proud to join with Senator Casey and my colleagues to introduce this resolution to both amplify Marc’s story and grow support on Capitol Hill for his safe and speedy release.”

“Marc Fogel has devoted his life to educating students around the world, from Pittsburgh to Oman to Venezuela to Moscow. Because of what can only be understood as a political ploy by Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime, he was unjustly sentenced to 14 years in a Russian maximum-security penal colony,” said Senator Casey. “Marc is a loving father and dedicated teacher whose life is in danger. I urge President Biden and his administration to do everything possible to bring Marc home.”

“This week marks another year Marc Fogel will spend his birthday unjustly imprisoned in a Russian penal colony instead of with his loving family in the Pittsburgh area,” said Representative Reschenthaler. “It’s past time for the Biden administration to bring Marc home and reunite him with his loved ones.”

In his first term in Congress, Representative Deluzio has been pushing the Biden Administration to prioritize Marc Fogel’s case. He has called for the State Department to designate Mr. Fogel as “wrongfully detained” and introduced the bipartisan Marc Fogel Act alongside other House members in the Pennsylvania delegation. Congressman Deluzio and his staff have also met with members of the Fogel family. He will keep fighting to bring attention to Mr. Fogel’s case and to build public and political support to bring him home.