On the recordJanuary 30, 2017
As we stand in the House Chamber today, over 4,000 U.S. military personnel are bringing the fight to ISIL terrorists in Iraq. Navy and Air Force pilots, Special Forces, and advisers are working hand in hand with Iraqis and Kurds to eject ISIL from Mosul, the city they declared 3 years ago as the capital of their caliphate. Great progress has been made. Supported by thousands of U.S. air strikes, the eastern half of the city has been reclaimed by the forces of the civilized world and efforts are underway to finish the job in western Mosul. Madam Speaker, none of this could have been done without the help of brave Iraqi interpreters who are essential to communicating all of the pieces of these operations. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am proud that from 2008 to 2016, we passed and repassed a special immigration visa program to open the door of immigration to the U.S. for these interpreters as a safe haven, and also as a reward for putting their lives at risk and making sure that our troops can communicate safely and effectively in their operations. Incredibly, on Friday, with one stroke of the pen, President Trump slammed the door shut on that program because he canceled all visa programs from Iraq.…
