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Measure To Push For Levinson Return Gains Ground In Senate

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A measure calling for Iran to help find a missing Coral Springs man and former FBI agent is gaining ground in the Senate.

Bob Levinson vanished in 2007 while working for the CIA - making him the longest held U.S. civilian in U.S. history. He was last seen on a small Iranian island.

"It's been nearly nine years since Bob went missing," said Florida Senator Bill Nelson who is sponsoring the measure. "It's time for the government of Iran to follow through on its repeated promises to help us find him."

On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the measure. This means it's now headed to the full Senate for a vote.

The move comes less than a month after the White House said they had reason to believe he was no longer in Iran.

Levinson had not been included in a group of five Americans released in Iran last month, prompting his family to push for more information.

Related: Family Of Man Missing In Iran Speak Out After Prisoners' Release

Last month, Levinson's son Dan said the family believes the Iranian government knows exactly what happened to him and where he is.

The White House says they are committed to bringing Levinson home and even made it part of the nuclear deal.

The last proof of life the family received was a video of Levinson in captivity. His family says the they have no reason not to believe he is alive.

The family has started a hashtag movement called #WhatAboutBob to keep putting pressure to bring back his father.

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