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The emergency bill will allow for the issuance of another 8,000 visas and provide 500 million U.S. dollars to help resettle Afghans who are helping the U.S. military and civilians.
The emergency spending bill passed by the Senate 98-0 on Thursday will increase the number of visas Allies Worked with the Americans in the war in Afghanistan. It will also enhance the security of the Capitol and repay outstanding debts after the January 6 uprising.
The Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement on this legislation this week, saying that the congressional police and Congress urgently need the money. translator And others who worked closely with U.S. government forces and civilians in Afghanistan.
The bill relaxes some visa requirements. Legislators said that as the U.S. withdrawal enters the final weeks, Afghan allies may face retaliation from the Taliban. These requirements are particularly urgent.
The bill will allow an additional 8,000 visas and provide US$500 million for emergency transportation, housing and other basic services for Afghans.
White House spokesperson Karin Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that the process of resettling Afghan allies will begin “before the end of this month.”
“This is the effort of the entire government, 24-7, and the whole world,” she said, adding, “Considering the safety and security and privacy of special Afghan immigrants and their families, we will not discuss or confirm any flights at this time. Details.”
Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, a senior Republican negotiating legislation with the Democrats, said that it would be “shameful” not to help Afghan allies and that they could be killed by the Taliban as the United States withdraws. .
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said that the senators “plan to keep our country’s commitment to the brave Afghans, who are taking great risks to help the United States and our partners fight terrorists.”
The House of Representatives is overwhelming pass Separate legislation last week to provide visas, 407-16. US President Joe Biden ordered the end of the US military role in Afghanistan by September 11. The Pentagon stated that more than 95% of the troop withdrawal has been completed and will be completed on August 31.
The White House issued a statement supporting the legislation, stating that the Biden administration supports improvements in the security of the Capitol and “continues to be committed to supporting the Afghan people, including fulfilling our commitment to Afghan nationals working for or on behalf of the U.S. government.”
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the legislation in the next few days and send it to Biden for signature.
Capitol funds after the riots
Funding for the Capitol—including police salaries, the National Guard, and better protection of the doors and windows around the building—was disbursed more than six months later. riot Initiated by supporters of former President Donald Trump, and reduced from bills passed by the House of Representatives and previous Democratic proposals.
Democrats said that if Congress does not pass the bill, by August, officials’ salaries will begin to run out, and the National Guard may have to cancel some training programs.
The bill was passed after four police officers repelled the mob in the January 6th attack testify At a hearing in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, they detailed the “Medieval” battle in which they were brutally beaten and verbally attacked.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said on Wednesday that the hearing may “anger the Senate’s bipartisan passage of this legislation.”
A more generous bill passed in the House of Representatives in May by a narrow margin, but no Republicans supported it, and some liberal Democrats voted against it. In the Senate, Republicans rejected Leahy’s $3.7 billion proposal before negotiating the final version.
The legislation will strengthen the personal protection of legislators whose death threats have been increasing since the riots, install new security cameras around the complex, and replace riot equipment lost by the police during the battle that day.
It will also fund new Intelligence gathering It also provides health and trauma support to Congressional police, as many troops are still suffering after the attack. It will reimburse $521 million to the National Guard to protect thousands of soldiers in the Capitol for more than four months after the siege.
Unlike previous proposals, this legislation will not provide funding for a temporary fence where another attack occurred, nor will it establish a new rapid reaction force within the police or military to respond to incidents in the Capitol. On January 6, the police overspent because the National Guard took several hours to arrive.
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