With war raging between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) announced today that he’s introducing a bill to provide flight reimbursements for U.S. citizens who have been stranded in Israel and are trying to get home.
“The United States, which has rightfully provided humanitarian evacuations for hundreds of thousands in war zones, free of charge, over the years, should not be making US citizens – who are desperately trying to flee Hamas’ unbridled terror and deadly antisemitism – take out a loan in order to reach safety,” Smith said in a statement.
Smith said that his office has been contacted by more than 600 constituents seeking help with leaving Israel. Under the Biden administration’s current evacuation plan, many Americans are being directed to board chartered flights to Europe, but to do so they have to sign promissory notes committing to repay the government for the flights.
Smith’s bipartisan bill, which is co-sponsored by Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning (D-North Carolina), would both waive those costs and require a Government Accountability Office study to determine whether any price gouging has occurred.
“We need to have the backs of our fellow Americans who are in harm’s way and get them home,” the congressman said.
The House is currently in no position to pass Smith’s bill – or any bill, really – thanks to the ongoing speakership fight that has left the House without a leader for more than two weeks. No legislation has been brought to the floor in those two weeks, and none can be brought until some sort of deal is worked out to choose a permanent speaker or empower a temporary one.
Over in the Senate, though, senators just today unanimously passed a resolution declaring American support for Israel and denouncing Hamas’ attacks. Both New Jersey Senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, voted for the resolution.
“The United States of America unequivocally stands with our ally, the State of Israel, as it fights to defend itself from the existential threat posed by Hamas, an Iran-backed terrorist organization hellbent on destroying Israel,” Menendez said in a statement. “This is our clarion call and we must meet this moment to ensure we defend democratic aspirations around the world.”