From the document: "The U.S. Department of State (DOS, or the Department) has long provided consular services to American citizens around the world pursuant to laws passed by Congress. Such services include disseminating information regarding any major disaster or incident abroad affecting the safety of U.S. citizens and, when their lives are endangered by such crises, facilitating their safe and efficient evacuation. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has required DOS to scale up consular assistance to U.S. citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Members of Congress have conducted oversight of DOS's consular response and in some cases called on the Department to consider providing additional services to facilitate the departure of U.S. citizens, including U.S. government charter flights and military resources. Some Members have also considered legislation to adjust or eliminate the statutory requirement that private U.S. citizens evacuated by DOS reimburse the Department for a portion of the expenses associated with their evacuation."