A 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.

Bill: 117-sres-465
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-12-02
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2021-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S8913)

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-12-02
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution expresses that it is the sense of the Senate that the Department of State should lead a coordinated effort to </p> <ul> <li> extract U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from Afghanistan,</li> <li>support Afghan citizens in their efforts to safely leave Afghanistan, and</li> <li>maintain open lines of contact and help with individuals remaining in Afghanistan under the Taliban.</li> </ul> <p>The resolution urges the United States to work with the United Nations (U.N.) to establish humanitarian corridors from and to countries bordering Afghanistan and work with such countries to ensure the efficient and safe reception and processing of Afghan refugees. </p> <p> The resolution urges the U.N. to appoint an independent, nongovernmental human rights monitor, who should </p> <ul> <li> have continued free access throughout Afghanistan to ensure the Taliban is not brutalizing individuals and families living in Afghanistan, and</li> <li> report to the U.N. Security Council in an ongoing fashion on the human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground in Afghanistan.</li> </ul> <p> The resolution urges the United States to convene a high-level summit to identify and consult with countries willing and able to receive Afghan refugees. </p> <p>Finally, the resolution discourages the U.S. government from engaging with the Taliban in any way that would grant the Taliban benefits typically afforded to legitimate governments or would otherwise legitimize the Taliban. </p>

tv_txt: III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 465 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 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; (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

That— (1) it is the sense of the Senate that— (A) the Secretary of State, in consultation with relevant Federal agencies, should lead a coordinated effort— (i) to extract United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from Afghanistan; (ii) to support Afghan citizens in their efforts to safely leave Afghanistan; and (iii) to maintain open lines of contact and help with individuals remaining in Afghanistan under the Taliban; (B) to carry out the coordinated effort described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of State should— (i) advise and consult with appropriate parties to advocate for the rights and freedoms of the people of Afghanistan at all international venues and with the governments of partner countries; and (ii) oversee support such as— (I) assistance mechanisms for Afghan citizens who are in need of humanitarian assistance or who are defending the human rights and freedoms of Afghan citizens; and (II) other mechanisms sufficient to continue to advocate for United States interests with United States allies and among the international community; (iii) continue the coordinated effort described in subparagraph (A) until the later of— (I) the date on which the Secretary of State has assisted in physically relocating, from Afghanistan to locations outside of the internationally recognized border of Afghanistan, any— (aa) citizen of the United States; and (bb) lawful permanent resident of the United States; (II) the date on which an independent human rights monitor has been established and is functioning in Afghanistan; and (III) the date on which the Secretary of State identifies a neutral international organization or entity that is able to vie for United States interests in Afghanistan till such a time as Afghanistan is returned to legitimate government; (C) the United States should— (i) work with the United Nations to establish humanitarian corridors from and to countries bordering Afghanistan, including Tajikistan, which has indicated willingness to receive Afghan refugees; and (ii) work with such countries to ensure the efficient and safe reception and processing of Afghan refugees, in accordance with international humanitarian law, to be registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and processed swiftly and equitably for travel to recipient countries, including the United States; (D) such humanitarian corridors should be free from obstruction by the Taliban, and safe passage should be provided by the United Nations or any other organization; (E) humanitarian assistance should continue to be provided to Afghanistan through the United Nations and international nongovernmental organizations, with special focus on the most vulnerable individuals, including women, girls, and individuals from ethnic minority groups, while also ensuring that the assistance does not benefit the Taliban politically or otherwise; (F) the United Nations should appoint an independent, nongovernmental human rights monitor, who— (i) should have continued free access throughout Afghanistan to ensure the Taliban is not brutalizing individuals and families living in Afghanistan; and (ii) should report to the United Nations Security Council in an ongoing fashion on the human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground in Afghanistan; (G) the United States should convene a high-level summit to identify and consult with countries willing and able to receive Afghan refugees; and (H) the Secretary of State should ensure robust interagency coordination and improve collaboration and transparency with Congress, United States civil society, and resettlement agencies so as to improve processing, service provision, and United States capacity to welcome; and (2) the Senate discourages the United States Government from engaging with the Taliban in any way that would grant the Taliban benefits typically afforded to legitimate governments or would otherwise legitimize the Taliban, including by— (A) making deposits through the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, or the Department of the Treasury or facilitating any other transactions that would provide economic support to the Taliban; (B) providing any foreign assistance for a nonhumanitarian purpose that might benefit or accrue to the Taliban; (C) facilitating any exchange of Ambassadors or fielding any diplomatic mission that goes beyond an interest section necessary for diplomatic conversations without recognition; or (D) allowing the Taliban to occupy Afghanistan’s seat in the United Nations.