[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>