CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE ACTS TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT AFGHAN ALLIES WHO ASSISTED U.S. MILITARY FORCES

(Washington, DC) – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle took action to support Afghan allies and their families who risked their lives as translators and navigators to aid United States military personnel. The ALLIES Act, H.R. 3985, would expedite the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process and help more families safely travel to the U.S. Rep. Morelle is a co-sponsor of the legislation.

"For decades, the courage and sacrifice of our Afghan translators and navigators have protected our troops, proving to be an invaluable asset to our Armed Forces and helping to save American lives," said Congressman Morelle. "We have a duty to ensure these men and women and their families are safe from retaliation and receive the visas they were promised. I'm proud to co-sponsor and vote in favor of this important legislation to ensure the United States continues to be true to our word, protect our allies, and lead from the front."

The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan has placed thousands of our allies at risk for retribution. The ALLIES Act will aide our Afghan partners and their families by expediting the SIV process and approving 8,000 additional visas to ensure there are enough visas to accommodate all eligible applicants and allow them to come to America as soon as possible. The legislation will also strengthen protections for surviving spouses and children of deceased applicants and streamline processing without compromising national security standards.

"The Association of Wartime Allies (AWA) is pleased to endorse H.R. 3985, the ALLIES Act. This bi-partisan effort will reduce the wait time for our Afghan Allies still undergoing the processing of their SIV application, whether evacuated or still in Afghanistan," said Executive DirectorKim Staffieri. "The AWA is very grateful for our longstanding relationship with, and the support of, Representative Morelle's office. Working together, we have helped hundreds of SIV families receive the visas they have earned, and the opportunity to relocate to the US to live in safety."

The ALLIES Act has passed the House of Representatives and will now move to the Senate for consideration.