III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 465 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should prioritize 

within the Government and emphasize with allies the need to provide 

continued support to, and maintain legal pathways for the emigration 

out of Afghanistan of, individuals who do not wish to be governed 

by the Taliban. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 2, 2021 

Mr. CASSIDY (for himself and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States 

should prioritize within the Government and emphasize 

with allies the need to provide continued support to, 

and maintain legal pathways for the emigration out of 

Afghanistan of, individuals who do not wish to be governed by the Taliban. 

Whereas, on August 15, 2021, the government of the Islamic 

Republic of Afghanistan collapsed, with President Ashraf 

Ghani fleeing to the United Arab Emirates; 

Whereas, on the same day, the Taliban seized Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan; 

Whereas the United States immediately began an emergency 

evacuation of Afghanistan, focusing on United States 


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•SRES 465 IS 

citizens, individuals with special immigrant visas, and refugees with Priority 1 and Priority 2 designations; 

Whereas, on August 31, 2021, the United States ended its 

evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, leaving United States 

citizens and an unknown—but notably high—number of 

visa-eligible Afghans and other allies at risk of harm 

from the Taliban; 

Whereas Afghan citizens in Afghanistan are increasingly at 

risk of food insecurity and poverty; 

Whereas the increase of poverty in Afghanistan creates conditions that could lead to a dramatic increase in human 

trafficking and child, early, or force marriage, which disproportionately impact women and girls; 

Whereas the United States has a legal duty to protect United 

States citizens and lawful permanent residents from 

harm; 

Whereas the United States has a moral duty and security interest in protecting the Afghan citizens who worked to 

build a democracy for themselves based on assurances 

from the United States Government that such efforts 

would be defended by the United States and its allies; 

Whereas the United States has a humanitarian responsibility 

to protect individuals who— 

(1) are at risk of retribution based on their— 

(A) religious beliefs; 

(B) activities supporting democracy in Afghanistan; or 

(C) defense of human rights, especially women’s 

rights and empowerment; 


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•SRES 465 IS 

(2) are in imminent danger due to the absence of 

the United States-led coalition in Afghanistan, which 

spanned two decades; or 

(3) are at risk of hunger or starvation; 

Whereas the United States has ended its military presence in 

Afghanistan and will conduct any remaining operations 

in Afghanistan from Doha, Qatar; and 

Whereas the United States should not accept the loss of two 

decades of nation-building, civil society strengthening, 

elections monitoring, advances in rights for girls and 

women, cultural exchange programs, and many other initiatives in collaboration with the people of Afghanistan: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) it is the sense of the Senate that— 

3 (A) the Secretary of State, in consultation 

4 with relevant Federal agencies, should lead a 

5 coordinated effort— 

6 (i) to extract United States citizens 

7 and lawful permanent residents from Af8 ghanistan; 

9 (ii) to support Afghan citizens in their 

10 efforts to safely leave Afghanistan; and 

11 (iii) to maintain open lines of contact 

12 and help with individuals remaining in Af13 ghanistan under the Taliban; 


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1 (B) to carry out the coordinated effort de2 scribed in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of 

3 State should— 

4 (i) advise and consult with appro5 priate parties to advocate for the rights 

6 and freedoms of the people of Afghanistan 

7 at all international venues and with the 

8 governments of partner countries; and 

9 (ii) oversee support such as— 

10 (I) assistance mechanisms for Af11 ghan citizens who are in need of hu12 manitarian assistance or who are de13 fending the human rights and free14 doms of Afghan citizens; and 

15 (II) other mechanisms sufficient 

16 to continue to advocate for United 

17 States interests with United States al18 lies and among the international com19 munity; 

20 (iii) continue the coordinated effort 

21 described in subparagraph (A) until the 

22 later of— 

23 (I) the date on which the Sec24 retary of State has assisted in phys25 ically relocating, from Afghanistan to 


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1 locations outside of the internationally 

2 recognized border of Afghanistan, 

3 any— 

4 (aa) citizen of the United 

5 States; and 

6 (bb) lawful permanent resi7 dent of the United States; 

8 (II) the date on which an inde9 pendent human rights monitor has 

10 been established and is functioning in 

11 Afghanistan; and 

12 (III) the date on which the Sec13 retary of State identifies a neutral 

14 international organization or entity 

15 that is able to vie for United States 

16 interests in Afghanistan till such a 

17 time as Afghanistan is returned to le18 gitimate government; 

19 (C) the United States should— 

20 (i) work with the United Nations to 

21 establish humanitarian corridors from and 

22 to countries bordering Afghanistan, includ23 ing Tajikistan, which has indicated willing24 ness to receive Afghan refugees; and 


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1 (ii) work with such countries to en2 sure the efficient and safe reception and 

3 processing of Afghan refugees, in accord4 ance with international humanitarian law, 

5 to be registered by the United Nations 

6 High Commissioner for Refugees and proc7 essed swiftly and equitably for travel to re8 cipient countries, including the United 

9 States; 

10 (D) such humanitarian corridors should be 

11 free from obstruction by the Taliban, and safe 

12 passage should be provided by the United Na13 tions or any other organization; 

14 (E) humanitarian assistance should con15 tinue to be provided to Afghanistan through the 

16 United Nations and international nongovern17 mental organizations, with special focus on the 

18 most vulnerable individuals, including women, 

19 girls, and individuals from ethnic minority 

20 groups, while also ensuring that the assistance 

21 does not benefit the Taliban politically or other22 wise; 

23 (F) the United Nations should appoint an 

24 independent, nongovernmental human rights 

25 monitor, who— 


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1 (i) should have continued free access 

2 throughout Afghanistan to ensure the 

3 Taliban is not brutalizing individuals and 

4 families living in Afghanistan; and 

5 (ii) should report to the United Na6 tions Security Council in an ongoing fash7 ion on the human rights and humanitarian 

8 situation on the ground in Afghanistan; 

9 (G) the United States should convene a 

10 high-level summit to identify and consult with 

11 countries willing and able to receive Afghan ref12 ugees; and 

13 (H) the Secretary of State should ensure 

14 robust interagency coordination and improve 

15 collaboration and transparency with Congress, 

16 United States civil society, and resettlement 

17 agencies so as to improve processing, service 

18 provision, and United States capacity to wel19 come; and 

20 (2) the Senate discourages the United States 

21 Government from engaging with the Taliban in any 

22 way that would grant the Taliban benefits typically 

23 afforded to legitimate governments or would other24 wise legitimize the Taliban, including by— 


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1 (A) making deposits through the World 

2 Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, 

3 or the Department of the Treasury or facili4 tating any other transactions that would pro5 vide economic support to the Taliban; 

6 (B) providing any foreign assistance for a 

7 nonhumanitarian purpose that might benefit or 

8 accrue to the Taliban; 

9 (C) facilitating any exchange of Ambas10 sadors or fielding any diplomatic mission that 

11 goes beyond an ‘‘interest section’’ necessary for 

12 diplomatic conversations without recognition; or 

13 (D) allowing the Taliban to occupy Af14 ghanistan’s seat in the United Nations. 

Æ 


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