Averting Loss of Life and Injury By Expediting Sivs Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill. As has been mentioned, it makes key changes in the Afghan Allies Protection Act to ensure that the Special Immigrant Visa program, which is part of current law, works as Congress intended to protect the lives of Afghan nationals who served honorably alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

For the past several years, many of us have expressed grave concerns about the challenges our allies face in navigating the Special Immigrant Visa process. It currently takes an average of 3 years to complete the process, which includes numerous forms, applications, detailed documentary requirements, and lengthy criminal background and national security checks.

This bill makes important changes to streamline the application without compromising the national security interests or the integrity of the program.

Now, I think back to when we voted after 9/11, and I don't think any of us--and I will speak for myself--believed that we were starting a 20-year war, the longest war in America's history. During that war, Afghans stepped forward to serve beside our brave military.

I am proud that veterans in this Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, have stepped forward to work together to make sure that this bill moves forward so that we can honor our commitment.

Mr. Speaker, we are finally leaving Afghanistan after 20 years, our longest war. We have a moral obligation to ensure that our allies can safely and more quickly be removed from harm, so we need to stand by these brave men and women and pass this bill. It is in the national interest.

If we can't keep our promises to our allies, who is going to believe us in the future?

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Crow from Colorado, in particular, for leading on this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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