S. 3343 – Saving Americans in Foreign Evacuations (SAFE) Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 1:07 PM UTC

The SAFE Act ensures that U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens evacuated from Israel because of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the ensuing conflict will not have to repay the U.S. government for travel arranged by the State Department. It also directs a study on expanding free evacuation travel worldwide and provides $2 million for the State Department to carry out these duties.

Key Provisions

U.S. citizens and permanent residents evacuated from Israel in FY 2024 cannot be required to reimburse the government for State Department‑organized travel.
The Secretary of State must submit a report to Congress within 185 days assessing the feasibility of extending free evacuation travel to future crises worldwide, including cost estimates and potential moral‑hazard issues.
The Act authorizes $2 million for FY 2024 to fund the State Department’s implementation of these provisions.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 249.

November 27, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 16, 2023

SenateCalendars

Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

November 16, 2023

SenateCalendars

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 249.

November 27, 2023

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 3343 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Sen. Mike LeeR-UT · Nov 15, 2023

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading. I now ask for a second reading, but in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule…

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Nov 27, 2023

Madam President, I understand there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading. In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further…

Bill Text

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Placed on Calendar SenateIssued November 27, 2023

II

Calendar No. 249

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 3343

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 16 (legislative day, November 15), 2023

Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Ms. Rosen) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time

November 27, 2023

Read the second time and placed on the calendar

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 185 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.

November 27, 2023

Read the second time and placed on the calendar