On Bipartisan Trip to Afghanistan Hochul Meets With Government and Military Leaders

Press Release

This past week, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul (NY-26) traveled to Afghanistan on an Armed Services Committee oversight trip to meet with government and military leaders.

In Afghanistan, Rep. Hochul and her colleagues were briefed on the International Joint Command Operations, the status of the Pakistani border and Helmand Provence, and met with local residents serving overseas where the delegation discussed the Iranian threat with top military personnel.

Leading up to the trip, Rep. Hochul met with General John Allen, Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, to speak about the reliability of the Afghan police forces after a constituent serving in Afghanistan was killed by an Afghan Police officer.

"Thirty-six hours in a war zone has been a life changing experience that has provided considerable insight into the challenges facing our brave men and women serving in Afghanistan," said Hochul. "After speaking with numerous service members, military leaders, and local Afghani government officials, it is clear that there are concerns about Pakistan and the Helmand Provence continuing to serve as safe havens for the Taliban. I have voted in the past to cut funding for aid to Pakistan, and will continue to fight to restrict funds as long as they sit by and allow refuge for terrorists who put our troops in harm's way."

Working through the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Hochul sent a letter to Chairman McKeon requesting that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) withhold Coalition Support Funding from Pakistan unless they meet stringent criteria. In the recently passed NDAA, all Coalition Support Funds are withheld until the Secretary of Defense certifies that Pakistan has opened the Ground Lines of Communication, allowing the transit of NATO supplies through Pakistan into Afghanistan, supporting the retrograde of U.S. equipment out of Afghanistan.

"Unconscionably, the primary concern among returning service members is finding employment - many of which are being treated for PTSD. It is imperative that we care for those that have sacrificed so much for us, which is why we must redouble our efforts to fight for our veterans and ensure they have the support they need when returning home," Hochul added.

Congresswoman Hochul is a co-sponsor of legislation to encourage the hiring of veterans, including the Hiring Heroes Act that modernizes and improves programs to assist our veterans with the transition from service member to civilian life. She voted in support of the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 -- a bill that received bipartisan support -- that provides assistance to older, unemployed veterans and provides active duty service members with transition and employment assistance.

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