Title: Recognizing the heroic efforts of United States and Coalition forces who conducted the airlift in Operation Allies Refuge.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the members of the Armed Forces who conducted the noncombatant evacuation operation airlift from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, and honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women who participated in and supported Operation Allies Refuge.
The resolution applauds the members of the U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Mobility Command of the Air Force who provided hope, saved lives, and executed their mission.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 794 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 794

 Recognizing the heroic efforts of United States and Coalition forces 
         who conducted the airlift in Operation Allies Refuge.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 16, 2021

Mrs. Kirkpatrick (for herself, Mr. Bost, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, 
  Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Katko, and Mr. Ryan) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the heroic efforts of United States and Coalition forces 
         who conducted the airlift in Operation Allies Refuge.

Whereas, from August 14, 2021, through August 31, 2021, the United States Armed 
        Forces and coalition forces supporting the United States operations in 
        Afghanistan conducted the largest non-combatant evacuation in the 
        history of the United States Armed Forces from Hamid Karzai 
        International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan;
Whereas United States Transportation Command led the effort, and United States 
        Air Force Air Mobility Command, the air component, executed the 
        operation;
Whereas from the time United States Transportation Command received orders to 
        commence deployment, initial force elements critical to securing the 
        airfield were airborne in less than 3 hours;
Whereas United States Transportation Command delivered more than 5,000 security 
        forces and their equipment to Hamid Karzai International Airport within 
        5 days;
Whereas nearly 100 contingency Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing 
        entered Hamid Karzai International Airport to operate the airfield and 
        facilitate the evacuation;
Whereas members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing arrived at a non-
        functioning airfield and rapidly repaired radars, airfield lighting, 
        refueling capabilities, ground servicing equipment and vehicles;
Whereas the 621st Contingency Response Wing serviced, unloaded, repaired, and 
        loaded 721 of the 778 aircraft that transited the airport, servicing an 
        average of 4 aircraft simultaneously;
Whereas Air Mobility Command, used more than 250 aircraft, including C-17s, C-
        130s, KC-10s, KC-135s, KC-46s, and C-5Ms aircraft, for tactical and en 
        route airlift;
Whereas the United States Armed Forces conducted more than 330 C-17 and C-130 
        missions from Hamid Karzai International Airport;
Whereas United States Air Force Air Mobility command planned and directed 2,627 
        total sorties, including 1,927 military and 700 commercial aircraft 
        flights;
Whereas, on August 15, 2021, a C-17 flight, callsign Reach 871, set a record by 
        carrying 823 passengers from Hamid Karzai International Airport;
Whereas 35 patients were transported on 3 aeromedical evacuation missions 
        following the cowardly Islamic State-Khorasan suicide bombing attack at 
        Hamid Karzai International Airport;
Whereas 11 aeromedical evacuation flights were conducted from various locations 
        to provide life-saving treatment for 59 patients;
Whereas on-board flight nurses and medical personnel provided lifesaving medical 
        treatment for evacuees while on-board, including by delivering at least 
        3 babies;
Whereas during the entire airlift, not a single sortie was missed for 
        maintenance, fuel, or logistical problems;
Whereas more than 500 members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, in the 
        Air National Guard, and in the Air Force Reserve flew missions around 
        the clock for 17 days;
Whereas, on average, the airlift evacuated 7,500 American citizens, coalition 
        partners, and at-risk personnel each day;
Whereas at the height of the airlift operation, military aircraft were departing 
        the airport every 34 minutes and evacuated more than 21,600 people in a 
        single day;
Whereas, from August 21, 2021, to September 13, 2021, the Civil Reserve Air 
        Fleet was activated to augment support to the Department of State in the 
        evacuation using aircraft from American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air 
        Lines, Omni Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines;
Whereas the Civil Reserve Air Fleet contributed a total of 18 commercial 
        aircraft and more than 420 flights; and
Whereas more than 124,000 evacuees were taken to safety, of which United States 
        Transportation Command and Air Force Air Mobility Command moved more 
        than 79,000, including 6,000 American citizens: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the courage, commitment, compassion, and 
        selfless service of the members of the United States Armed 
        Forces who conducted the non-combatant evacuation operation 
        airlift from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, 
        Afghanistan;
            (2) honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women 
        who participated in and supported Operations Allies Refuge; and
            (3) applauds the men and women of the United States 
        Transportation Command and the Air Mobility Command of the 
        United States Air Force, who provided hope, saved lives, and 
        executed their mission under the most austere conditions, 
        representing the best of the United States.
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