“The situation in Yemen is dire and many of my constituents or their family members have been trapped in the country for months” -Rep. Dingell

WASHINGTON– The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) congressional conference report urged President Obama to work with international partners to protect non-combatants and assist in the evacuation of U.S. citizens and nationals from Yemen.

The NDAA is the legislation to authorize the budget authority of the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. Congress reached a bipartisan compromise on the bill Tuesday, but it still requires Obama’s approval to be signed into law.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) thanked the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee for including language she authored on U.S. citizens in Yemen in the final report. 

“The situation in Yemen is dire and many of my constituents or their family members have been trapped in the country for months without a safe route home,” Dingell said.

In May, the full House of Representatives approved Dingell’s amendment to express the sense of Congress that the president should exercise all available authorities to evacuate U.S. citizens and nationals from Yemen as soon as possible.

Earlier this year, the congresswoman wrote a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging the State Department to take further steps to evacuate American citizens, protect those stranded in Yemen and improve communication with families.

Several Arab and Muslim American organizations have sued the federal government for abandoning U.S. citizens in Yemen. 

According to the Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities executive order, the State Department and Department of Defense are legally required to plan for the protection and evacuation of U.S. citizens in threatened areas overseas.