WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the death of American aid worker Kayla Jean Mueller:

“I’m saddened and angered to learn about the death of Kayla Mueller. This is a terrible loss, and my heart goes out to her parents, family, and loved ones.

“This young woman traveled halfway around the world to help those in dire need—people who had been driven from their homes by the violence of the Syrian civil war. She embodied service and compassion; she shined a ray of light in a dark corner of the world.

“Kayla’s work stands in such sharp contrast to the terrorists responsible for her death. ISIS extremists place no value on human life. They are a constant threat to our security and our values, and we must remain steadfast in our efforts to put an end to their reign of terror.”

###