Political Quotes

“Since 2006, when I offered the first legislation that ultimately became the Iraqi special immigrant visa, I have been haunted by the prospect of the brave Iraqi and Afghan nationals that risked their lives to help American efforts in these troubled countries, that they themselves would be victims because of their trust in us. As my friend Kirk Johnson eloquently stated in the title of his recent book, ``To Be a Friend is Fatal: The Fight to Save the Iraqis America Left Behind'': For 7 years, it has been a battle to have the United States honor its obligations to those who put their trust in us when they helped us. As the United States has withdrawn from Iraq and is winding down in Afghanistan, people with very long memories are searching out, hunting down, and killing people they regard as traitors because they helped America as interpreters, as guides, as drivers. We have seen some bright spots. One was where the program we fought so hard to establish was going to expire September 30, at the height of the government shutdown. In a reaffirmation of our ability to get something important done, we were able, on a bipartisan basis, to secure unanimous consent to keep the special immigrant visa program alive, at least through the end of the year, so we can work the problems out.…”