Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to the families of James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and condemning the terrorist acts of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Whereas James Foley and Steven Sotloff were highly respected journalists whose integrity and dedication were a credit to their profession;

Whereas James Foley and Steven Sotloff embodied the spirit of our Nation’s First Amendment liberties, including the freedom of the press;

Whereas James Foley and Steven Sotloff made significant contributions to our Nation through their courageous reporting of events in Libya, Syria, and elsewhere; and

Whereas the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a terrorist organization responsible for committing barbaric acts against United States citizens, religious and ethnic minorities, and those who do not subscribe to ISIL’s depraved, violent, and oppressive ideology: Now, therefore, be it