Tallahassee Sun

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressmen Neal Dunn, Cory Mills, and Jared Moskowitz have introduced a bill that aims to waive the costs of evacuation for United States citizens fleeing war or acts of terrorism. The bill directs the State Department to authorize the waiving of expenses related to the evacuation of American citizens in such situations.

Congressman Dunn highlighted the urgency of the issue, stating, "Thousands of Americans are in Israel, including constituents from my district, who need help evacuating. Americans can contact the federal government for help; however, upon safe arrival in America, they're met with a bill for safe transport. My bill seeks to waive this debt for these individuals and any American who needs evacuation from a warzone. No American should have to hesitate to ask for help, especially due to financial constraints when they are escaping terrorist attacks."

The current State Department Basic Authorities Act requires participants to repay travel costs through a Repatriation Loan Program, which can result in high interest and penalties if not repaid in time. Participants must sign a promissory note before boarding the flight or cruise ship, and refusal to do so results in being denied boarding.

Congressman Mills expressed his concern over the burden placed on American citizens, stating, "It is unfathomable that under current statute, American citizens are burdened to pay out of their own pocket when attempting to evacuate violent conflict zones overseas. The bottom line is the United States Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens both at home and abroad. As the only Member of Congress to have run evacuation missions to get American citizens out of both Afghanistan and Israel, I know firsthand the Biden Administration's disregard for Americans overseas."

He continued, "While this administration is quick to use taxpayer dollars to provide free housing to illegal immigrants entering the U.S. or foreign wars, they have no problem putting further financial burdens on Americans who have extremely limited options to escape war zones. I'm proud to join Rep. Dunn in this effort to ensure the American people are not forced to choose between personal safety and their finances."

Congressman Moskowitz echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the illogical nature of the current rules at the State Department. He said, "The current rules at the State Department requiring people to pay for their evacuation make absolutely no sense. Imagine fleeing a country after a horrific terrorist attack, and once you land, you're footed with the bill? In the midst of war, people are forced to make quick decisions to ensure their safety and the safety of their family. Personal finances should never play a role in someone's ability to escape a warzone."

The introduced bill is a crucial step towards addressing the financial burdens faced by American citizens seeking safety in the face of terrorism. It seeks to alleviate the financial constraints that may deter individuals from seeking help when escaping warzones. The representatives are committed to ensuring that no American is forced to choose between personal safety and their finances.

For more details about the bill, please refer to the provided link.

To learn more, click on this link: https://dunn.house.gov/press-releases?ID=0FED5221-EA57-41E6-8334-09E83817DFDE