This resolution condemns the President and the Secretary of State for failing their duty to U.S. citizens in Israel by failing to take reasonable steps to provide viable methods to evacuate such U.S. citizens from Israel following the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 797 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 797
Condemning the Biden Administration for failing to fulfill the United
States Government's duty to American citizens left stranded in Israel.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 19, 2023
Mr. Mills (for himself, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Donalds, Mrs. Chavez-
DeRemer, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Collins, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Norman, Mr. Biggs, Mr.
Weber of Texas, Mr. Duncan, Mr. McCormick, Mrs. Cammack, Mr. Owens, Mr.
Carey, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Jackson of Texas, Mr. D'Esposito,
and Mr. Timmons) submitted the following resolution
October 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the Biden Administration for failing to fulfill the United
States Government's duty to American citizens left stranded in Israel.
Whereas approximately 500,000 United States citizens live in Israel, and as many
as 900,000 United States citizens visit Israel each year;
Whereas Hamas terrorist operatives initiated a large-scale coordinated offensive
against Israel on October 7, 2023, brutally murdering more than 1,300
innocent men, women, and children, and taking many others hostage,
including United States citizens;
Whereas, on October 8, 2023, Israel declared war against Hamas;
Whereas beginning on October 9, 2023, airlines cancelled flights departing from
Israel, leaving United States citizens with extremely limited to no
viable options to evacuate from the ongoing conflict;
Whereas in response to United States citizens requesting assistance to leave the
war zone in Israel due to a lack of available methods to leave, the
Department of State's email responses failed to provide useful and
actionable information, including noting that ``some flights have been
reduced or suspended'' and ``U.S. carriers have temporarily suspended
flights to Israel'', yet that ``travelers should check with the airlines
on the availability of flights and flight status'';
Whereas 146 bipartisan Members of the House of Representatives transmitted a
letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on October 10, 2023, urging
the Department to ``use all resources at its disposal, including charter
flights, to help those Americans that remain in Israel and wish to
return to the United States'';
Whereas the Department of State reportedly instructed United States citizens at
least through October 10, 2023, that the Department had no plans to
provide evacuation options out of Israel, as well as that United States
persons seeking assistance should make no further contact to the
Department;
Whereas, on October 10, 2023, Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller
stated that ``There are flights that are getting out of the airport in
Tel Aviv'' and that ``we have encouraged people to try to avail
themselves of those options'' despite commercial flights becoming
increasingly scarce and having limited capacity for numerous days in
advance of their departure;
Whereas El Al was one of the only commercial airlines continuing to operate
flights leaving Israel, and El Al reportedly informed United States
citizens seeking to leave Israel that the airline had no alternative
flights available because all flights were at capacity;
Whereas, on October 12, 2023, the Department of State announced it would begin
coordinating flights to assist United States persons wishing to leave
Israel;
Whereas the first charter flight organized by the Department of State departed
on October 13, 2023, and at least 16 other countries began operating
repatriation flights before the United States;
Whereas the United States Department of State refused until October 13, 2023, to
provide meaningful resources to help United States citizens evacuate
from Israel despite widespread violence and increasing danger to the
lives of Americans, including those with medical conditions with
dwindling critical medications and other particularly vulnerable
populations;
Whereas, on October 13, 2023, the Department of State authorized the departure
of family members of United States Government personnel and some non-
emergency personnel from United States Embassy Jerusalem and United
States Branch Office Tel Aviv;
Whereas the Biden Administration has used taxpayer funds to provide free housing
and other resources to illegal immigrants entering the United States,
yet United States citizens seeking to evacuate from the developing war
zone in Israel are not prioritized for such resources or assistance; and
Whereas it is the duty and responsibility of the United States Government,
inasmuch as it is reasonably within its power, to preserve and protect
the safety and interests of the citizens of the United States of America
domestically and abroad: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives condemns the failure of
President Joseph R. Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to
uphold their responsibility to the citizens of the United States in
Israel by failing to take reasonable steps to provide methods for their
viable evacuation from Israel.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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