No American Left Behind Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9242
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T21:55:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation requires the Department of Defense to prepare and submit a detailed report to Congress on its role in recovering, repatriating, and holding accountable U.S. nationals who are held hostage, unlawfully detained, missing, or deceased abroad, with a focus on areas of recent U.S. military operations such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The bill also expresses support for maintaining a sustained national commitment to these efforts and exploring a formal "No American Left Behind" doctrine.
Key Provisions
- Findings: Congress recognizes the U.S. obligation to recover its citizens, notes ongoing unresolved cases in the Middle East and Africa, highlights successful past rescues and releases, and identifies the Department of Defense's existing role in interagency efforts under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act.
- Sense of Congress: The United States should sustain coordinated efforts on recovery and evaluate creating a permanent doctrine to guide such operations.
- Report Requirement: The Secretary of Defense must submit a report within 180 days covering specific topics, including:
- Coordination between the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict and the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell.
- How combatant commands include recovery missions in operational plans and the effects of force posture changes.
- Criteria for using military assets in rescues, especially in areas without U.S. military presence.
- Intelligence maintenance in areas without ongoing U.S. forces.
- Any legal, policy, or resource gaps, with recommendations.
- Best practices from partner nations.
- Feasibility of establishing a formal "No American Left Behind" doctrine.
- Case-specific assessments for unresolved remains and detention cases.
- The report must be unclassified, with a possible classified annex for sensitive case details.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill does not amend or repeal existing statutes. It adds a new, one-time reporting obligation on the Department of Defense and references the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act to reinforce current interagency structures. It introduces the concept of a potential new Department of Defense doctrine without creating immediate legal requirements.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires the Department of Defense to review and document its planning, intelligence, and coordination processes, which could influence future resource allocation and operational priorities.
- Citizens: Strengthens emphasis on recovery of detained or missing Americans, potentially improving outcomes for families and individuals through better planning.
- International Relations: Encourages assessment of partner nations' recovery practices, which may affect cooperation on detainee issues and shared intelligence.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Defense and its components, including special operations and combatant commands.
- Congressional defense committees responsible for oversight.
- U.S. nationals who are detained, missing, or deceased abroad, along with their families.
- Interagency bodies such as the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell.
- Partner nations involved in recovery or detention matters.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill reinforces Congress's oversight role over executive branch military and intelligence activities related to citizen recovery. It highlights potential gaps in statutory authority or policy that could limit Department of Defense actions, while avoiding any direct mandates that might raise separation-of-powers concerns. The emphasis on a possible new doctrine could shape long-term defense planning without immediate constitutional conflicts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No American Left Behind Act — issued 2026-06-10 — PDF (8 pages)