Welcoming Brittany Alkonis to Washington D.C.
Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution requires the President of the United States to “give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” Since 1913, this annual event has been called the State of the Union Address, and on February 7th, President Joe Biden will come to the Capitol and deliver his second State of the Union Address to me and my colleagues.
Every year, each member of Congress is allowed to invite one guest to attend the speech in person. This year, I am pleased that Mrs. Brittany Alkonis will be joining me for this historic occasion. Brittany is the loving wife of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis, who has been unnecessarily imprisoned by the Japanese government.
In 2021, while stationed in Japan, Ridge was driving down a mountain road with Brittany and their children from a trip to Mount Fuji when he experienced a horrible case of altitude sickness that caused him to lose consciousness at the wheel, leading to a tragic and unfortunate accidental car crash that left two Japanese citizens dead. Sadly, because the authorities in Japan did not provide him with appropriate medical treatment following the crash, which could have diagnosed his illness, the Japanese court sentenced Ridge to three years in prison.
I learned of Ridge’s story from a friend of mine, whom I served alongside in the Arkansas House of Representatives. His family has close ties to the Alkonis family and is working together with many of Ridge’s supporters to bring him home. The relentless advocacy of those fighting for justice for Ridge caught my attention and that of many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate. Members of Congress who normally have little occasion to work together have found we are pulling in the same direction for the Alkonis family. I say this to emphasize the power one individual can have in making a difference and to emphasize the need for President Biden’s support in this fight to bring Ridge home.
This story is tragic and goes to show the importance of supporting our military families serving overseas. Those who are brave enough to sacrifice so much to serve our country deserve the utmost respect and always be supported by the Pentagon, the White House, and Congress.
I am humbled to have the opportunity to welcome Brittany to the U.S. Capitol and to hear her and her husband’s story firsthand. I will continue to pray for the safety of Ridge, and for peace for his family while we continue to advocate for his quick release.