Congressman Hamadeh Introduces Bills to Ensure No American is Left Behind and Preserve Military Assets

WASHINGTON D.C. - Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) was elected by the voters to serve America First, and that is why he is proud to announce the introduction this week of two pieces of legislation, the No American Left Behind Act and the No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026 . Near-identical amendments were offered by Congressman Hamadeh and included in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by unanimous voice vote of his colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee and are expected to be passed by the House later this month. The No American Left Behind Act was inspired by the recent release of American citizen Dennis Coyle from Afghanistan and the Congressman’s enduring search for Arizona’s “angel,” Kayla Mueller, in Syria. The legislation establishes a formal “No American Left Behind Doctrine” to guide long-term policy and planning, building on recent operational success in bringing Americans home. As a dedicated emissary of the Peace Through Strength agenda and a former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence Officer, Congressman Hamadeh crafted legislation to foster greater interagency coordination by reviewing collaboration among the Department of War, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and other partners to sustain and improve whole-of-government responses. The No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026 was introduced in response to the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and previous incidents in Iraq, where billions of dollars in American taxpayer-funded military equipment fell into the hands of hostile actors after the collapse of partner security forces. Congressman Hamadeh’s No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026 establishes comprehensive reporting requirements, risk assessments, and accountability measures to ensure military assets are properly tracked, secured, transferred, or destroyed when U.S. forces exit a theater of operations. “The bottom line is clear: the United States is finally making real progress in bringing Americans home,” stated Congressman Hamadeh, referring to the No American Left Behind Act. “This bill locks in those efforts — strong, coordinated, and enduring. Every American abroad must know that their country will never stop fighting for them. No exceptions. America First means no American left behind. “I was proud to personally assist Dennis Coyle and his incredible family this year, and I’ll never forget the honor of traveling to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to advocate Kayla’s body be returned to her parents, Carl and Marsha Mueller,” continued Congressman Hamadeh. “As a U.S. Army intelligence officer, I’ve seen firsthand the complex, gritty work it takes to bring our people home. This legislation strengthens that process and sends a powerful message: we leave no American behind.” “The American people should never again be forced to watch billions of dollars in military equipment fall into the hands of our enemies,” declared Congressman Hamadeh, referencing the No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026. “We’re still haunted by the shameful images of the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan — weapons scattered across the battlefield, abandoned to terrorists and our adversaries. Those failures exposed dangerous gaps in leadership, accountability, and planning. Our servicemembers and taxpayers deserve far better — and with this bill, we’re ensuring it never happens again.” Background: Since before taking office, Congressman Hamadeh vowed to return Kayla Mueller's body to her family in Prescott, Arizona. Kayla was abducted by terrorists in 2013 while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria. Congressman Hamadeh took his oath of office in January 2025, honoring Kayla's life by using her family’s Bible during the ceremony in Washington, D.C. He was joined by his family and Kayla's parents. In August 2025, Congressman Hamadeh made an unprecedented trip from Jerusalem to Damascus to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani to discuss the Congressman's continuing efforts to bring Americans home and advance Peace Through Strength. In February, Congressman Hamadeh demanded the immediate release of Dennis Coyle, whom the Taliban had been holding in Afghanistan since January 2025, in solitary confinement without charge or due process. In March, Coyle, a Colorado resident whose family hails from Arizona, was released by the Taliban. According to the Department of War reporting, at least $7.1 billion in U.S.-funded defense equipment was left behind in Afghanistan following the 2021 withdrawal. Congressman Hamadeh’s legislation includes the Department of War’s findings that the Taliban gained access to approximately $57.6 million in U.S. government funds and captured thousands of U.S.-provided vehicles and other military assets after the collapse of Afghan security forces. Similar failures occurred in Iraq in 2014 when ISIS seized large quantities of U.S.-provided military equipment, including hundreds of armored vehicles that were later weaponized against coalition and partner forces.