Us Congress House Bill HR797

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/19/23
• Refer: 10/25/23

Caption

Condemning the Biden Administration for failing to fulfill the United States Government's duty to American citizens left stranded in Israel.

Impact

The resolution serves as an official expression of discontent from a significant number of bipartisan members of the House of Representatives (146 members) regarding the federal government's handling of the crisis. It underscores the perceived negligence from the Department of State in not utilizing available resources to facilitate the evacuation of American citizens, notably before the decision to arrange charter flights was made on October 12, 2023. The implication of HR797 is that it seeks to hold the administration accountable for prioritizing the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens in conflict zones.

Summary

HR797 is a resolution condemning the Biden Administration for its inadequate response to American citizens stranded in Israel following the outbreak of conflict with Hamas on October 7, 2023. The bill criticizes the administration's failure to provide timely and effective evacuation options for approximately 500,000 U.S. citizens residing in Israel and an estimated 900,000 visitors present at the time of the crisis. It highlights the severe limitations on commercial flights during this period and the actions of the Department of State, which were deemed insufficient to address the urgent evacuation needs of American citizens.

Contention

Key points of contention surrounding HR797 include accusations of inefficiency and lack of decisiveness on the part of the Biden Administration. Critics of the administration's response argue that the Department of State did not adequately respond to requests for assistance, jeopardizing the safety of U.S. citizens at a critical time. The bill frames the government's delayed action as not only a failure of duty but also a matter of prioritizing immigration assistance to illegal migrants over the urgent needs of its citizens abroad.