House grants 8K additional visas for Afghan allies

July 23, 2021 carleyshaffer1 US 0

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 27: Representative Jason Crow (D-CO), one of the Democratic impeachment managers from the House of Representatives, heads back to the Senate floor during the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on January 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. The defense team continues its arguments on the sixth day of the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. It has been reported that Senator Pat Toomey has been discussing that a "one-for-one" witness deal be proposed to Senate Democrats after the Presidents legal defense team concludes their opening arguments on Tuesday. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) heads back to the Senate floor. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:56 PM PT – Friday, July 23, 2021

The House has recently passed a bill approving additional visas for Afghan allies in a near unanimous vote. In a rare show of bipartisanship, the House approved the bill expanding the Special Immigrant Visa program for Afghans who aided U.S. forces during the decades-long war in Afghanistan.

The bill called the Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs or Allies Act granted an additional 8,000 visas to translators, contractors and their families.

The lead sponsor of the bill, Colorado Rep. Jason Crow (D), said the Allies Act was a chance for America to ensure we uphold the promise made to those that provided necessary aid in a conflict that spanned nearly 20 years. The bill was introduced last month, but as the Taliban continued to advance throughout the country, keeping Afghan allies and their families safe became essential.

Today, the House passed my bill the ALLIES Act with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. Now it goes to the Senate.

This bill isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about doing what’s right and honoring our promises.

Every single day counts. The Senate must pass the ALLIES Act. pic.twitter.com/1w97VowoTt

— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) July 22, 2021

The passage of the Allies Act comes in stark contrast to the callousness of comments made by Joe Biden who, when discussing the duty the U.S. has to ensure Afghanistan doesn’t fall to the threat of terror groups, again said it was simply not the job of the U.S. to fix anything.

“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. And it’s the right and the responsibility of Afghan people alone to decide their future, and how they want to run their country,” said Biden.

Meanwhile, the bill is headed to the Senate and under Operation Allies Refuge, the federal government is working to establish safe havens in allied countries to give Afghans a new chance to live a safe life away from the constant threat of Taliban violence.