WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today introduced an amendment to the national security supplemental package to provide a path to permanent residency for Afghans, who supported the United States’ mission in Afghanistan, after undergoing additional vetting.

“After the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, veterans extended the creed ‘leave no man behind’ and helped their Afghan partners flee to the United States for safety,” said Sen. Moran. “Unfortunately, many of our Afghan partners are still overseas, and those who made it to the U.S. face uncertainty as to whether they will be granted permanent residency. I urge my colleagues to support the inclusion of the Afghan Adjustment Act in the national security supplemental to grant Afghan refugees stability, bolster our national security and send a message to U.S. partners and allies that we will honor our word.”

“As we work to pass legislation supporting our allies across the world, we cannot forget the Afghans who stood with us and our military,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “We have growing support for our effort to provide our Afghan allies more legal certainty as they seek refuge in the United States. That is why I am introducing this bipartisan amendment to the security package. We must get this done.”

The amendment is based on the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghan allies to apply for permanent legal residency to provide certainty as they build their lives in the United States after undergoing thorough vetting. Currently, Afghans who were admitted on temporary humanitarian status can only gain permanent legal status through the asylum system or Special Immigrant Visa process (SIV), which face severe backlogs and long processing times.

This amendment is supported by a broad coalition including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, With Honor Action, No One Left Behind, the Chamber of Commerce and many others.

The amendment is cosponsored by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.).

Last week, Sen. Moran wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal encouraging his colleagues to support the Afghan Adjustment Act.

# # #