The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS” mentioning Jeanne Shaheen was published in the Senate section on pages S5213-S5214 on July 30.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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 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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