Ensuring Voluntary Actions are Compensated Act of 2023

H.R. 4517, the Ensuring Voluntary Actions are Compensated Act of 2023, would require the Department of State and the Department of Defense to develop a plan for reimbursing individuals who used their own money to help evacuate people from Afghanistan. The proposal specifically covers personal funds spent by U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and Afghan allies to facilitate the departure of others during the period following the U.S. military withdrawal in August 2021.

If enacted, the bill would mandate a formal study and a report to Congress on the feasibility of providing these repayments. For citizens and private organizations that conducted independent rescue missions, this legislation represents a potential step toward recovering the out-of-pocket costs they incurred during those evacuation efforts.