On the recordJuly 25, 2023
Mr. President, I rise today to speak to the importance of passing the Afghan Adjustment Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is pending before the U.S. Senate. This is our moment. We have been working on this for 2 years--2 years--while people who have stood with our military have been in limbo, 2 years when they don't know what their future will hold. This is their time. This bipartisan legislation that I lead with Senator Lindsey Graham is also cosponsored by Senator Coons; Senator Moran, who is the ranking Republican on the Veterans' Affairs Committee; Senator Blumenthal; Senator Murkowski; Senator Shaheen; Senator Wicker, who is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee; Senator Durbin, who is the chair of the Judiciary Committee; of course, Senator Graham, who is the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee; Senator Tillis and Senator Mullin, with many others who support this bill. Mr. President, this bill strengthens our national security. It does right by Afghans who worked alongside our troops. And from a broader national security perspective, as we look at the many purposes of the bill before us, this amendment shows the world that when the United States of America makes a promise, we keep it. We keep our covenant.…





