WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Abe Hamadeh has introduced legislation that would designate a section of Interstate 17 to honor “Arizona’s angel,” Kayla Mueller and Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Charles H. “Charlie” Keating IV, who made the ultimate sacrifices in the fight against ISIS.
The congressman says the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway would recognize the lives and legacies of Mueller and Keating, who represent “Arizona’s enduring legacy of humanitarian courage, military service, and sacrifice in the fight against ISIS.”
The designated highway would stretch from Prescott, Kayla’s hometown, to Phoenix, Charlie’s hometown, connecting the communities that shaped the lives of two extraordinary Arizonans.
Congressman Hamadeh introduced the legislation on August 13, one day before what would have been Kayla Mueller’s 38th birthday.
Keating was the third U.S. servicemember killed during Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led military campaign launched in 2014 to defeat ISIS, reclaim territory seized by the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria, dismantle its network, and protect innocent civilians from its violence.
Mueller was abducted by terrorists in 2013 while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria. She endured 18 months in captivity before being killed by ISIS militants, including then-ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Congressman Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, has long worked to honor Kayla’s legacy and bring her remains home to her family. During his swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C., Hamadeh took his oath of office using the Mueller family’s Bible. He was joined at the ceremony by his family and Kayla’s parents, Carl and Marsha Mueller.
In August 2025, Congressman Hamadeh traveled from Jerusalem to Damascus to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. During the unprecedented visit, Hamadeh continued his efforts to bring Kayla’s remains home and advance a Peace Through Strength agenda in the region.
“Operation Inherent Resolve demanded both military force and humanitarian resolve, and this designation recognizes the distinct yet complementary roles our beloved Arizonans played in that effort,” said Hamadeh. “We can never forget the victims of ISIS or these two Americans who faced evil with faith, courage, and an unwavering commitment to others. Kayla and Charlie embodied the very best of Arizona, and their legacies deserve to be remembered for generations to come.”
Hamadeh hopes the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway Act ensures that every generation traveling between Prescott and Phoenix will be reminded of “two Arizonans whose courage and sacrifice helped define the fight against terrorism and the enduring American commitment to freedom.”
Be the first to comment