Saving Americans in Foreign Evacuations (SAFE) Act

Bill: 118-s-3299
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2023-11-14
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-11-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Saving Americans in Foreign Evacuations (SAFE) Act</strong></p><p>This bill provides that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents evacuating Israel in response to the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and the resulting armed conflict shall not be required to reimburse the U.S. government for emergency travel organized by the Department of State during FY2024.</p><p>The State Department shall report to Congress on the feasibility of expanding funding of such evacuations worldwide in future crises.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3299 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 14 (legislative day, November 13), 2023 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Ms. Rosen ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To provide that United States citizens evacuating Israel shall not be required to reimburse the United States Government, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Saving Americans in Foreign Evacuations (SAFE) Act . 2. Requirement to provide free travel to United States citizens evacuating Israel Notwithstanding section 4(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ( 22 U.S.C. 2671(b)(2)(A)(ii) ), private United States citizens and permanent resident aliens evacuating Israel in response to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and the resulting war and civil unrest shall not be required to reimburse the United States Government for travel organized by the Department of State during fiscal year 2024 pursuant to such section. 3. Report (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report examining the feasibility of expanding the reimbursement requirement under section (2) to future evacuations worldwide. (b) Elements The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements: (1) The estimated annual costs of providing cost-free flights and other forms of transportation. (2) A description of the additional responsibilities the Department would bear under such a requirement. (3) A description of additional authorities the Department would need to under such a requirement. (4) A description of moral hazard issues that may arise from such a requirement. 4. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 for the Department of State to carry out activities under this Act.