Russia arrested Whelan at the end of 2018 on what the U-S calls bogus espionage charges.
After years in a labor camp...he returned without a job...and un-able to qualify for un-employment.
Congress offered former hostages medical...dental and psychological care under the Levinson Act.
But Whelan found they never funded it.
WHELAN: “Congress did a good thing putting that piece into the law...and they think that the State Department’s providing this care for us. But the State Department isn’t.” :09
Some Michigan members of Congress are pushing to find compensation for returning hostages...and ensure there is a mechanism for delivering it.