East Arapahoe News

WASHINGTON — On June 5, Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), former Army Ranger in Afghanistan and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability, joined Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03) to introduce the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2023. This legislation would increase the amount of Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) available and extend the Afghan SIV Program, which provides a pathway to safety in the US for Afghan nationals who were employed on behalf of the US government. The Senate companion bill was introduced this week by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Roger Wicker (R-MS). 

The Afghan Allies Protection Act would extend the Afghan SIV program by five years, provide an eligibility exemption for those injured or killed in the line of duty, authorize an additional 20,000 special immigrant visas, require a strategy for more efficient processing, and require senior special immigrant visa coordinating officials across multiple departments. 

“I served alongside Afghan partners. I might not be here today without them. Our nation is safer for their bravery, yet thousands are left waiting for the US to fulfill the promise we made to give them safe harbor,” said Congressman Crow. “This legislation breaks down the bureaucratic blockades so many of our Afghan partners have faced by extending the Afghan Special Visa Program, increasing the number of visas available, and addressing the backlog of applicants. Our Afghan partners helped us at great risk to their own lives. It is our duty to honor this promise–turning our backs on them during their time of need is not an option.”

“As a veteran, it breaks my heart to hear of the danger our Afghan interpreters and allies have been placed in following America’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. America made a commitment to our Afghan allies and interpreters, and we have an obligation to keep our word to these partners who stood together with us through 20 years of battle in Afghanistan,” said Congressman Wenstrup. “This proposal addresses problems within the Afghan SIV program and has strong bipartisan support in Congress. I urge my colleagues to follow through on our obligation and show the world that as Americans, when we make a promise, we keep it.”

“Tens of thousands of Afghan allies risked their lives and the lives of their families to help our country. We must keep our promise to protect them,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “I helped create the Special Immigrant Visa program with former Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy to meet these obligations. The Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2023 builds on this critical work and brings us that much closer to keeping our commitment for all who served.”

“Afghanistan might not be on the front pages anymore, but the United States cannot forget about the promise we made to our Afghan allies who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans throughout 20 years of war. Our nation promised to stand by them as they stood by us. They held up their end of the deal – the U.S. must do the same,” said Senator Shaheen. “This bipartisan legislation directly addresses the systemic issues with the Afghan SIV program that I uncovered so we can get our allies to safety as swiftly as possible. I’m proud to have Senator Wicker as my partner on this effort. Every day our allies remain in Afghanistan under Taliban rule is another day that their lives – and the lives of their families – hang in the balance. We saw a strong bipartisan determination in Congress to support our Afghan allies in the immediate aftermath of U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan – I urge lawmakers to remember that commitment and to support our bipartisan proposal that would ensure the program runs as efficiently as possible. This is about keeping our word to our allies and maintaining our position as a trusted partner.”

“With Honor Action proudly supports the Afghan Allies Protection Act because America always keeps its word,” said Rye Barcott, With Honor Action Co-Founder and CEO. “For more than two decades, thousands of Afghans risked their lives serving shoulder to shoulder with American troops. Now they’re being left behind. Expanding the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program is critical to ensuring America honors its commitment to those who stood with us. With Honor Action thanks For Country Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Crow, Congressman Blumenauer, Congressman Wenstrup, Senator Shaheen, and Senator Wicker for their leadership on this important issue.”

"No One Left Behind is proud to support the efforts of Representatives Crow, Wenstrup, and Blumenauer to help address pressing issues with the Afghan SIV program,” said Andrew Sullivan, Director of Advocacy at No One Left Behind. “This legislation is a vital step towards America fulfilling its promise to the interpreters and SIVs who served with us for decades."

This bill builds on Crow’s previous work supporting our Afghan partners, including his work last Congress with the Afghan Adjustment Act, ALLIES Act, and HOPE Act. Crow also created the Honoring our Promises Working Group following the Administration's announcement of a September 11, 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

Original source can be found here