August 13, 2026
Mr. Hamadeh of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To designate the 26-mile portion of Interstate 17 in the State of Arizona between milepost 237 near New River and milepost 263 at the junction with State Route 69 near Cordes Junction as the Kayla Jean Mueller and Charles H. Keating IV Memorial Highway
, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Kayla Jean Mueller was a humanitarian aid worker from Prescott, Arizona, who devoted her life to assisting vulnerable populations in conflict zones, was kidnapped by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) while providing humanitarian assistance in Syria in August 2013, and was later murdered in captivity.
(2)
Chief Petty Officer Charles H. Keating IV, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, was a United States Navy SEAL who was killed in action on May 3, 2016, while supporting operations against ISIS in Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
(3)
Kayla Jean Mueller’s courage, faith, moral conviction, and commitment to human dignity exemplified the highest ideals of American humanitarian service.
(4)
Chief Petty Officer Keating’s bravery, valor, and professionalism exemplified the highest ideals of American military service and the commitment of United States service members to defeat ISIS and protect innocent civilians.
(5)
Despite extensive efforts by the United States Government, the remains of Kayla Jean Mueller have not yet been recovered and returned to her family, underscoring the Nation’s enduring obligation of No American Left Behind: a solemn commitment to recover and repatriate Americans lost overseas whenever possible.
(6)
Operation Inherent Resolve represents the collective effort by the United States and its coalition and local partners to degrade and defeat ISIS through military action, enablement of local partner forces, humanitarian assistance, and stabilization efforts.
(7)
Operation Kayla Mueller, named in her honor and in pursuit of justice, resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and symbolized the Nation’s enduring commitment to defeating ISIS and bringing to justice those responsible for the suffering endured by Kayla Mueller, Chief Petty Officer Charles H. Keating IV, and countless other victims, including members of ancient Christian, Yazidi, Druze, Kurdish, and other communities persecuted by ISIS.
(8)
Arizonans have contributed to this effort through both military service and humanitarian action, confronting ISIS through distinct but complementary expressions of might and mercy.
(9)
Interstate 17 serves as a principal transportation corridor connecting central Arizona communities, including routes linking Phoenix to northern Arizona and the Prescott region.
(10)
This designation honors two Arizonans whose lives were shaped in different communities, connected by the same corridor, and ended confronting the same evil.
(11)
Honorary designations of Federal-aid highways have long served as a means of recognizing Americans whose lives and service reflect enduring national values.
(12)
The State of Arizona has honorarily designated Interstate 17 as the Arizona Veterans Highway in recognition of the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans, and this designation is intended to complement that existing recognition.
Sec. 3. Designation of Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway
(a) Designation
The 26-mile portion of Interstate 17 in the State of Arizona between milepost 237 near New River and milepost 263 at the junction with State Route 69 near Cordes Junction shall hereafter be known and designated as the Kayla Jean Mueller and Charles H. Keating IV Memorial Highway
, to be commonly referred to as the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway
.
(b) Rules of applicability
The designation under subsection (a)—
(1)
shall complement, and shall not be construed to alter, replace, diminish, or otherwise affect the existing Arizona Veterans Highway designation applicable to Interstate 17;
(2)
shall be honorary in nature;
(3)
shall not require any change to existing highway names, maps, addresses, or navigation systems; and
(4)
shall not impose any requirement for additional Federal funding.
(c) Signage; repository
The Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with appropriate State and local authorities, shall—
(1)
permit the installation of suitable honorary signage and permit memorialization at Sunset Point Rest Area consistent with the designation under subsection (a); and
(2)
include the designation in the appropriate repository on the website of the Department of Transportation.