A bunch of 51 bipartisan lawmakers is urging Home negotiators to maintain up the circulation of {dollars} to a visa program for Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover of their nation.
Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, wrote to the Home of Representatives’ high appropriators as they proceed to barter federal funding for the rest of fiscal 12 months (FY) 2025.
“We write to induce you to take care of vital provisions for the Afghan Particular Immigrant Visa (SIV) program1 within the Fiscal Yr (FY) 2025 appropriations bundle. Authorizing new Afghan SIVs is vital to vetting and relocating certified Afghan principal candidates at present within the processing pipeline,” they wrote to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., and others.
It comes as President-elect Trump promised to work towards steep spending cuts within the coming federal funding fights. He wrote on Fact Social final week, “The USA will reduce Tons of of Billions of {Dollars} in spending subsequent 12 months by way of Reconciliation!”
Lawmakers are calling for the preservation of an Afghan visa program as President-elect Trump vows steep spending cuts. (Getty Pictures)
Individuals in Trump’s orbit, together with some Home Republicans, are pushing for him to have larger management over how congressionally appropriated funds are spent.
In the meantime, Trump tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy final month to guide an advisory panel on cost-cutting dubbed the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
The duo have already positioned themselves as influential gamers in Congress’ spending discussions as nicely, having led the revolt in opposition to a 1,547-page authorities funding invoice that was a product of bipartisan negotiations. They haven’t, nonetheless, stated the place they need to see Congress pull again on spending.
Reps. Jason Crow and Zach Nunn, each navy veterans, led the bipartisan letter. (Getty Pictures)
The 51 lawmakers pushing for the Afghan SIV program to be preserved argue it’s “a life-saving path to security for Afghan nationals who face critical hazard on account of their work alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and contractors.”
“Congress should proceed this work in order that the State Division is ready to subject visas to eligible Afghans who face imminent threats from the Taliban, Islamic State, and different hostile teams due to their service to the U.S. and our allies,” they wrote.
The Afghan SIV program was first enacted in 2009, however noticed new significance after the Taliban’s lightening-fast takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 – which precipitated the U.S.’s withdrawal after many years within the Center Jap nation.
Congress licensed extra visas beneath this system yearly since FY 2019, in line with the letter.
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Congressional negotiators have to date failed to come back to an settlement on FY 2025 spending, forcing lawmakers to cross two extensions of final 12 months’s funding ranges to forestall a partial government shutdown.
The latest extension, referred to as a seamless decision (CR), provides lawmakers till March 14 to make a deal.
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