Benjamin Gilman: “The Afghan Freedom Support Act is an important measure. Afghanistan and the Afghan people are at a critical crossroads…”

“The Afghan Freedom Support Act is an important measure. Afghanistan and the Afghan people are at a critical crossroads today in their survival. Afghanistan has been torn apart by hostilities, by drought, by regional disputes. It has caused a humanitarian crisis that has left millions of Afghans with little hope and too much despair. The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act before us attempts to help Afghans help themselves. This bill authorizes $1.05 billion over a 4-year period for a broad range of development, economic, anti-narcotics, and security assistance for Afghanistan that will assist its administration in its efforts to build a better future for their people. The former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, recently returned to Afghanistan to help lead a Loya Jirga, a grand assembly. The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act will help the former King and will help Chairman Karzai, Dr. Abdullah, the Afghan foreign minister, and other representatives of the Afghan community to start a long-needed process and a discussion of renewal on all of their issues. The Afghan Freedom Support Act will also help bring stability to Afghanistan and to the region.”