A bunch of 51 bipartisan lawmakers is urging Home negotiators to maintain up the circulate 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’ prime 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 important provisions for the Afghan Particular Immigrant Visa (SIV) program1 within the Fiscal 12 months (FY) 2025 appropriations bundle. Authorizing new Afghan SIVs is important to vetting and relocating certified Afghan principal candidates presently within the processing pipeline,” they wrote to Home 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, “America will reduce A whole bunch of Billions of {Dollars} in spending subsequent 12 months by way of Reconciliation!”
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Lawmakers are calling for the preservation of an Afghan visa program as President-elect Trump vows steep spending cuts. (Getty Photographs)
Folks 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).Â
The duo have already positioned themselves as influential gamers in Congress’ spending discussions as properly, having led the revolt in opposition to a 1,547-page authorities funding invoice that was a product of bipartisan negotiations. They haven’t, nevertheless, stated the place they need to see Congress pull again on spending.
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Reps. Jason Crow and Zach Nunn, each army veterans, led the bipartisan letter. (Getty Photographs)
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 challenge 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 a long time within the Center Japanese nation.
Congress licensed extra visas below this system yearly since FY 2019, in response to the letter.
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Congressional negotiators have thus far failed to return to an settlement on FY 2025 spending, forcing lawmakers to go two extensions of final 12 months’s funding ranges to stop a partial authorities shutdown.
The newest extension, referred to as a seamless decision (CR), provides lawmakers till March 14 to make a deal.
