IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 505 
Expressing support for the people of Afghanistan, condemning the Taliban’s 
assault on human rights, and calling for the Federal Government to 
protect the Afghan citizens who bravely served alongside the Armed 
Forces of the United States by providing adequate resources for the 
special immigrant visa program established under the Afghan Allies Pro-
tection Act of 2009. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 28, 2021 
Mr. KEATING (for himself, Ms. JACOBS of California, Mr. AUCHINCLOSS, Mr. 
VARGAS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. LURIA, Ms. TITUS, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. 
CROW, Ms. HOULAHAN, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. BERA, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. 
GALLEGO, Mr. SIRES, Mr. WALTZ, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. PHILLIPS, Mr. 
BACON, and Mr. COURTNEY) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the people of Afghanistan, con-
demning the Taliban’s assault on human rights, and 
calling for the Federal Government to protect the Afghan 
citizens who bravely served alongside the Armed Forces 
of the United States by providing adequate resources 
for the special immigrant visa program established under 
the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:18 Jun 29, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\HR505.IH
HR505
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 505 IH 
Whereas the House of Representatives must maintain the in-
tegrity of the United States by reaffirming the commit-
ment of our Nation to the brave Afghan citizens who 
stood by the side of the Armed Forces of the United 
States in Afghanistan at great personal risk; 
Whereas the mission of the United States in Afghanistan has 
been supported by thousands of brave Afghan citizens 
who have worked as interpreters, translators, and con-
tractors, among other important roles, and have risked 
their lives, and those of their families, to facilitate the se-
curity operations of the United States and our partners; 
Whereas the Taliban and Islamic State both view these Af-
ghan citizens as traitors, whose involvement with United 
States forces should be punished by death, and have fol-
lowed through on their threats with executions of locals 
who helped, and protected the lives of, United States per-
sonnel deployed to Afghanistan; 
Whereas, since 2018, over 300 Afghan interpreters have been 
murdered by the Taliban for their support of the Armed 
Forces of the United States; 
Whereas the willingness of these individuals to accept dif-
ficult and dangerous work was informed by the prospect 
of qualifying for lawful permanent residence in the 
United States under the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 
2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) should they or their family 
members experience a serious threat as a consequence of 
their employment; 
Whereas the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public 
Law 116–260) authorized 4,000 additional special immi-
grant visas for Afghan principal aliens, for a total of 
26,500 visas allocated since December 19, 2014; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:18 Jun 29, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR505.IH
HR505
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 505 IH 
Whereas the authority to issue special immigrant visas to Af-
ghan nationals under section 602(b) of the Afghan Allies 
Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) will con-
tinue until all visa numbers allocated under that Act are 
issued; 
Whereas, despite an authorized cap of 26,500 special immi-
grant visas, only about 16,000 visas have been issued 
since the program began; 
Whereas just 237 visa applications were granted in the last 
3 months of 2020, plus 1,084 more for family members; 
Whereas the current special immigrant visa program does not 
allow for family members of a primary applicant to con-
tinue with the process if the primary applicant dies be-
fore filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Services; 
Whereas there are roughly 18,000 total applications pending, 
with about 15,000 of those still at the early stages of the 
process—including roughly 5,000 of those waiting for ini-
tial action by the United States mission in Afghanistan 
and Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs—to de-
termine whether the applications can proceed; 
Whereas approximately 19,000 courageous individuals, and 
an unknown number of their family members, are still 
awaiting their special immigrant visa as the United 
States continues its path for withdrawal; 
Whereas it could take upward of 2 years for the Department 
of State to complete its processing of the current pool, 
assuming that applicant numbers and processing rates 
remain static, although numbers are expected to rise as 
the United States military withdraws by September 2021; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:18 Jun 29, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR505.IH
HR505
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 505 IH 
Whereas Congress has authorized only 4,000 special immi-
grant visas for Afghan principal aliens for 2021 and, 
given the delays associated with utilizing previous years’ 
visa authorizations, it is unlikely to clear the backlog of 
applicants by the September 2021 withdrawal deadline; 
Whereas, on April 14, 2021, President Biden announced that 
the United States would begin withdrawing its military 
forces from Afghanistan on May 1, 2021, with the goal 
of completing the military withdrawal by September 
2021, heralding a possible end to the nearly 2-decade 
United States military presence; 
Whereas, even if all available visas are used, many of special 
immigrant visa applicants and their families—and more 
who are likely to apply in the coming months—will re-
main in Afghanistan following the United States military 
withdrawal; 
Whereas, without significant action by the administration to 
clear the visa backlog, our former partners and their 
families could potentially be persecuted once the United 
States military withdraws from Afghanistan; 
Whereas, if the United States fails to adequately protect its 
partners when it withdraws from the Afghanistan con-
flict, future partners could be less willing to cooperate 
with the United States military, undermining national se-
curity interests; 
Whereas bipartisan Members of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate have pressed the Biden Administration to 
expedite processing for the special immigrant visa pro-
gram and pledged to start a working group to coordinate 
White House engagement; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:18 Jun 29, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR505.IH
HR505
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 505 IH 
Whereas bipartisan Members of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate have urged the Biden Administration to 
plan for, and, if required, organize, an emergency evacu-
ation of Afghan partners before the United States mili-
tary drawdown, if the visa backlog could not be resolved 
in time; and 
Whereas the United States and its allies and partners must 
stand together with our Afghan partners and provide safe 
haven from Taliban retribution: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the sacrifices and bravery of the 
Afghan people in their struggle for democracy, rule 
of law, and respect for human rights while enduring 
decades-long conflict and oppression by the Taliban; 
(2) condemns the continued human rights viola-
tions committed by the Taliban against women, civil 
society activists, opposition leaders, students, edu-
cators, medical personnel, and journalists, among 
others, and calls for the group to halt any further 
acts of violence against its own citizens; 
(3) recognizes the danger that many formerly 
United States-employed Afghan partners and their 
families face should the Taliban regain control of Af-
ghanistan; 
(4) understands that the United States has a 
moral obligation and a national security interest in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:18 Jun 29, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR505.IH
HR505
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS