Political Quotes

“One of our responsibilities in this Congress is to protect the men and women from Iraq and Afghanistan who put their lives on the line to assist the United States. Thousands of Afghans and Iraqis who helped us as guides, as interpreters, must not be left to the tender mercies of al Qaeda, the Taliban, and others with long memories who seek to punish those who helped us. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal had a front-page story about an Iraqi family that is caught in the bureaucratic pipeline for the families seeking safety after years of service and now facing intense threats against them. There was a recent HBO feature by comedian John Oliver on his program, ``Last Week Tonight,'' that, in graphic, satirical, somewhat profane terms, captured the essence of the bureaucratic nightmare faced by thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan. They and their family members are at risk of being assaulted, kidnapped, tortured, raped, or killed simply because they were there helping Americans. We are seeing some progress. I deeply appreciate the tireless efforts of Chairman Buck McKeon, Ranking Member Adam Smith, and their staff, the work on the National Defense Authorization Act, which will help us uphold commitments to our Afghan allies. However, all of us in Congress have a responsibility, and there is an opportunity for all of us to step up and help this desperate situation.…”