Legion calls for inclusion, passage of House legislation assisting Afghan allies

The American Legion joined with other organizations today in calling for U.S. House of Representatives leadership to include and then pass legislation supporting our Afghan allies living in the United States and abroad.

In a letter addressed to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Legion joined with Veterans of Foreign Wars, With Honor Action, Moral Compass Federation and No One Left Behind in calling for the inclusion of Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies in the Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.

“It has been over two years since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan,” the letter reads. “Some might believe this marked the end of America’s involvement in Afghanistan, but for U.S. veterans this is not the case. The moral obligation our veterans feel to the Afghans who fought beside them did not end with the withdrawal. These veterans continue to stand with the 80,000 Afghans languishing in legal limbo in the United States, as well as the over 140,000 applicants to the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, hiding for their lives in Taliban controlled Afghanistan.”

The letter calls for Congress to swiftly pass legislation that will adjust the status of our Afghan allies and assist those still in Afghanistan and other countries. Key provisions of the legislation come from the Afghan Adjustment Act and Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2023; the Senate version of the legislation was stripped from the Senate’s Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 earlier this year.

“The provisions in Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies are incredibly popular across the political spectrum,” the letter states. “National polling shows nearly 90% support amongst Americans for the policies this legislation would implement. Furthermore, this legislation is a national security imperative – standing with our Afghan allies will demonstrate American resolve, building confidence among America’s allies and deterring adversaries.

“Congress has failed over the last two years to pass necessary legislation. Partisan politicking has made passing bipartisan legislation increasingly difficult, but our allies and veterans dealing with moral injury can no longer be casualties of this inaction.”