Joe Morelle: “I thank my distinguished colleague and friend, my colleague from the Rules Committee, the gentlewoman from North…”

“I thank my distinguished colleague and friend, my colleague from the Rules Committee, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross). Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of the rule in favor of the ALLIES Act. This bill would protect our Afghan partners who risked their lives as translators and navigators to U.S. military personnel by expediting the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa process and approving an additional 8,000 visas so that they can come to America as soon as possible. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has placed thousands of these allies and their families at risk of retribution. If not for the contributions of these Afghan partners, the United States military losses could have been greater than already endured during this prolonged conflict. For 20 years, their courage and sacrifice protected our troops, and they were an invaluable asset to our forces in Afghanistan. We have a duty to ensure both they and their families are safe from retaliation from the Taliban and other terrorist organizations. In my district of Rochester, New York, my office hears multiple times per week from SIV advocates, like Keeping Our Promise and the Association of Wartime Allies. The stories they share are heartbreaking: brave men and women stuck in bureaucratic limbo, waiting for the visas they were promised so they can start a new life in America. We need to pass this bill and honor the promise we made to our allies.…”