WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Carlos A. Giménez and Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) jointly introduced the bipartisan Justifiable Use of Money for Peace (JUMP) Act, a bill that waives the current U.S. State Department’s repayment requirement for American citizens and permanent residents evacuated from Israel. The JUMP Act allows Americans who were victims of the Hamas attack to return home to the United States without having to repay the transportation costs.
The JUMP Act addresses the urgent needs of Americans who have found themselves caught in the crossfire of Hamas' terrorist attack. This legislation offers a compassionate response to the harrowing experiences faced by victims of the Hamas attack, allowing them to return home to the United States to mourn without the financial burden of repaying evacuation services.
“On October 7, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel’s sovereign borders, indiscriminately killing, kidnapping, and torturing thousands of civilians while leaving countless others in desperate need of evacuation back to the United States,” said Rep. Giménez. “As the law is written, US citizens and permanent residents that take U.S. government transport are required to repay the cost of their transportation. A victim of Hamas terrorism in the midst of an evacuation should not be burdened by cumbersome paperwork or be forced to repay their transportation. I am proud to work with my fellow South Florida colleague Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24) to introduce a bill that waives this onerous requirement and allows victims to mourn without a costly repayment looming.”
"In times of crisis, the last thing we should burden our fellow Americans franticly trying to evacuate Israel with is bureaucratic red tape and financial strain as they flee the horrors inflicted by Hamas terrorists,” said Rep. Wilson. “The JUMP Act is a beacon of compassion, recognizing the unimaginable pain and trauma victims face. By waiving the U.S. State Department’s repayment requirement, we're offering solace to those grieving, allowing them to begin the healing process without the added weight of repayments. This bill is a call for empathy, and I urge my colleagues to stand with us in prioritizing the well-being of Americans escaping Hamas terror.”
For the full bill text of the JUMP Act, CLICK HERE.
Congressman Carlos Giménez represents Miami-Dade County and the beautiful Florida Keys. He is the only Cuban-born Member of the 118th Congress, having fled his homeland shortly after the Communist takeover of the island. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, and the Select Committee on China.
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