Congressman Abe Hamadeh is working to follow through on a pledge he made to voters that he would put Americans first. As a result, he has introduction two pieces of legislation, the No American Left Behind Act and the No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026.
Hamadeh says 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.
Wanting to serve as an “emissary of the Peace Through Strength agenda,” the former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence Officer, says he crafted the 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, according to Hamadeh, 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.
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.
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 bottom line is clear: the United States is finally making real progress in bringing Americans home,” stated 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 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 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.”
Before getting elected, 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.
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.