[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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