[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 134 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5213-S5214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, nearly 20 years ago, the United States 
invaded Afghanistan to prevent that country from being exploited as a 
platform for terrorism and extremism. In doing so, the U.S. worked 
side-by-side with international and Afghan forces to remove the Taliban 
from power, facilitate democratic elections, build democratic 
institutions, and promote human rights throughout Afghanistan. Because 
of these efforts and the commitment and dedication of the Afghan 
people, the Afghanistan of 2021 is far different than the Afghanistan 
of 2001. And now that Afghanistan has made this progress, we must work 
with our Afghan partners to do everything in our power to preserve 
these gains and leave a stable country behind us. It is both a moral 
obligation and a national security priority that we do so.
  As U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan, the safety and security of 
our Afghan allies who put their lives on the line to help our 
servicemembers and diplomats must be a top priority. This is about 
fulfilling a sacred promise that we made to those who served the U.S.-
led mission in Afghanistan. It is a service that many Afghans have 
already paid for with their lives. Like U.S. personnel, our Afghan 
partners

[[Page S5214]]

died on the battlefield alongside Americans. But unlike our own 
servicemembers, when the Afghans went home, they were not safe from 
danger.
  Earlier this year, National Public Radio shared the story of 
``Mohammad'' and his family. ``Mohammad'' is not his name, but a 
pseudonym used because of the threats made upon him and his family by 
the Taliban. Mohammad was an interpreter who served his country and the 
U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan. For this, the Taliban threatened him 
and his family. They labeled him a traitor and forced him to seek 
safety in the United States through the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa 
program. Mohammad was murdered by the Taliban in January, shortly after 
his visa to the U.S. was approved--10 years after he applied. Last 
month, his family finally arrived in the United States--to safety--but 
they did so without Mohammad. His wife and six children are here 
without their father, who gave his life in service to his country and 
the U.S. mission.
  Unfortunately, Mohammad's story is not unique. The Taliban has made 
their intentions clear. They call in the dead of the night and leave 
notes affixed to houses: ``We know who you are and will kill you.''
  The Taliban's brutality against vulnerable populations like our 
Afghan allies has increased over the last several months, but as the 
U.S. withdrawal nears completion, conditions on the ground have become 
all the more dangerous. If the United States does not act quickly to 
uphold its promise to these Afghans, our opportunity to get our 
partners to safety will pass us by. U.S. action must start with 
bolstering the program that was supposed to protect Mohammad, the 
Afghan Special Immigrant Visa--SIV--program, and include a secure and 
efficient evacuation of our partners by the Biden administration.
  There has long been bipartisan support for the Afghan SIV program in 
Congress, which I originally championed with the late Senator John 
McCain. John personally understood the need to fulfill our moral 
obligations to our partners and the strategic value in taking care of 
our allies. His example of bipartisan leadership continues today, and 
it has served the SIV program well: There is bipartisan, bicameral 
determination to take action. That is why Senators Ernst, Durbin, 
Wicker, and I introduced the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2021 and 
why I am pleased that Congress has taken decisive action to pass this 
language with the supplemental budget appropriations bill. President 
Biden signed the bill into law today. These actions provide additional 
visas and make urgently needed process fixes to the program, which 
maintains broad bipartisan support across the political spectrum. This 
is necessary to help the U.S. fulfill its obligation to our Afghan 
partners, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also 
because of what it means for U.S. credibility in future engagements. We 
must send a strong message to our current and future allies: If you 
stand by our side on the battlefield, we will have your back.
  However, these improvements to the process are just the first step in 
ensuring our Afghan allies do not suffer for their service. The Biden 
administration must now take immediate steps to implement this 
legislation and provide for the safety of Afghan SIV applicants. 
Congress has demonstrated that there is bipartisan support for 
immediate action to protect and support our Afghan SIV applicants and 
friends. Our allies around the world are watching.
  There is no easy answer on Afghanistan. But one thing is clear: We 
cannot leave our Afghan allies behind. With this legislation now law, 
we must concentrate all U.S. efforts on supporting and protecting those 
who worked with the U.S. Government, as well as those whose work is 
diametrically opposed to the views of the Taliban, such as women's 
equality advocates. To not do so is to make a grave moral and security 
mistake.
  I look forward to continuing to work with the administration and my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle in support of our friends in 
Afghanistan.

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