RELEASE: Gottheimer and Leader Jeffries Host Parents of Last Living American Hostage for President’s Address to Joint Session of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C — Today, March 3, 2025, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) announced that they are hosting the Alexander family — parents of American hostage Edan Alexander from Tenafly, NJ — as their guests for President Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress. Alexander is the last living American hostage held by Hamas terrorists. 

“Leader Jeffries and I are honored to have the Alexander family from Tenafly, NJ, as our guests to the President’s joint address to Congress. Their presence ensures that no American forgets their son, 21-year-old Edan, is still being held hostage in Gaza. We must get every hostage home. The United States should never leave any man or woman behind,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “For more than 500 days, the Alexander family has lived in fear, with few updates on Edan’s condition or whereabouts, as he remains in the hands of Hamas terrorists. I will not rest until every single hostage, including the five remaining Americans, is brought home.”

Last week, Gottheimer returned from Qatar, where he met with the Prime Minister and other lead Qatari government officials to stress the critical importance of continuing negotiations for the second phase of the deal to bring all the hostages home, especially his constituent, American Edan Alexander.

In Congress, Gottheimer has continued to advocate for the release of hostages held by Hamas and the need for continued support for our democratic ally, Israel:  

• Led a bipartisan resolution with 136 colleagues commemorating the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack.
• Led a bipartisan letter with 15 colleagues to the President calling on him to leverage the US-Qatar relationship to put pressure on Doha to get the hostages home.
• Led a bipartisan letter to UN Secretary-General Guterres asking him to investigate the failures of UN Women and why it took so long to condemn and acknowledge the heinous acts of Sexual Violence and brutal murders of 10/7.
• Led 113 members of Congress in a bipartisan letter to President Biden to continue to support Israel, thwart Hamas terror, hold Iran accountable for its role in funding Hamas, impose maximum sanctions on Iran, end Iran’s oil trade to China, and put pressure on nations who support Hamas, including Qatar and Türkiye.
• Helped pass a bipartisan resolution condemning rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas in its war against Israel.
• Helped pass a bipartisan resolution calling on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during the October 2023 attack on Israel.
• Helped pass bill alongside Rep. Mast (FL-21) that imposes sanctions on foreign persons, agencies, and governments that assist Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or their affiliates.
• Helped pass a bipartisan resolution Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.
• Voted to authorize $17.6 billion in aid to Israel in April 2024. 
• Voted to authorize $17.6 billion in aid to Israel in February 2024.
• Voted to authorize $14 billion in aid to Israel in November 2023.
• Co-led the “Operation Swords of Iron” Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act, to appropriate an additional $2 billion to Israel to replenish its Iron Dome in October 2023.

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