The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday, June 5, calling for the immediate release of a Butler County native held in a Russian prison since August 2021.

The resolution, introduced last year by Pennsylvania Democratic Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, as well as multiple others, calls on President Joe Biden and his administration to do everything possible to secure the release of Marc Fogel and other U.S. citizens wrongfully detained in Russia.

“Marc Fogel has devoted his life to educating students around the world, from Pittsburgh to Oman to Venezuela to Moscow,” Casey said in a news release. “After nearly three years of captivity, Marc’s health is rapidly declining and his life is in danger. I urge President Biden and his administration to do everything possible to bring Marc home.

Fogel taught English and was returning to Russia in 2021 when a search of his bag turned up a small amount of medical marijuana he’d been prescribed for back pain. He was arrested, tried and sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug trafficking.

“The passage of this resolution sends a very clear message: It’s time to bring Marc Fogel home,” Fetterman said in a news release. “Anyone who knows Marc — his family, friends and students — will tell you about his infectious positivity and the countless lives he has changed in his 35 years of teaching. Marc and his family deserve to see each other again. We’ve seen the incredible work of the Biden administration in bringing Brittney Griner and Trevor Reed home. Now let’s bring Marc home.”

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, is one of several who introduced a similar resolution in the House of Representatives. That resolution hasn’t yet been taken up by a committee.