Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts Authorization Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8368) to establish a Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts in the Department of State, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 8368

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts Authorization Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COORDINATOR.

(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall appoint a Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (``Coordinator''), who shall be responsible for--

(1) relocating and resettling eligible Afghan allies and facilitating the departure of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who request United States assistance to leave Afghanistan, except that the Coordinator shall prioritize the facilitation of such departures before the relocation or resettlement of allies; and

(2) working with other offices of the Department of State, as well as with appropriate counterparts at other Federal departments and agencies, to ensure integrated United States support for such relocation efforts.

(b) Authorities.--The Coordinator is authorized--

(1) to enter into personal services contracts for a period ending not later than the date described in section 3;

(2) to extend and maintain through such date personal services contracts entered into pursuant to the authority provided by section 2401 of the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-43);

(3) to hire temporary personnel who are United States citizens, except that to the extent possible the Coordinator should use Foreign Service limited appointments to fill such positions both in the United States and abroad in accordance with section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3949); and

(4) subject to the availability of appropriations--

(A) to accept, in the form of reimbursement or transfer, amounts from other Federal departments or agencies as appropriate to carry out the duties described in subsection (a); and

(B) to reimburse such other departments or agencies as the Coordinator may determine appropriate to carry out such duties.

(c) Detailees and Assignees.--Any Federal Government employee may be detailed or assigned to the Office of the Coordinator, with or without reimbursement, consistent with applicable laws and regulations regarding such employee, and such detail or assignment shall be without interruption or loss of status or privilege.

(d) Notification With Respect to Transfers of Funds.--

(1) In general.--The Coordinator shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of each use of the transfer authority made available under subsection (b)(4)(A) not later than 15 days before the completion of such transfer.

(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--

(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. SEC. 3. SUNSET.

This Act and the authorities provided by this Act shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation to codify the establishment of the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts.

When the Biden administration executed its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, we left behind thousands of Afghans who had risked their lives to assist the United States' mission in Afghanistan.

The subsequent Taliban takeover put these brave individuals at serious risk, and we have seen many Afghans who worked for the U.S. be targeted in reprisal killings and forced disappearances. It is our duty as Americans to help bring these vulnerable Afghans to safety in the U.S.

The Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts has worked tirelessly in 2021 to support the resettlement of eligible Afghans in the United States. After undergoing the most thorough security vetting processes, CARE assists Afghans as they complete the final stages of the resettlement process, preparing them for their new lives in the United States.

At a time when there is little hope for Afghans to pursue a life of prosperity amidst the brutal Taliban regime's crackdown on human rights and archaic restrictions on women, it is more important than ever that the U.S. fulfill our duty to our Afghan allies and help them come to the United States.

I have been happy to see that CARE has demonstrated increased efficiency in processing Afghan relocation cases, enabling our vetted Afghan partners to come to the United States.

Codifying this office ensures that every eligible, properly vetted Afghan may be moved to the U.S. and establish a new, safe life for their family far from the threat of the Taliban.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to show their support for our Afghan allies and support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this administration failed the Afghan people by abandoning them to the Taliban rule. It is our responsibility as Americans to remedy this failure. I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation today, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for this legislation.

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Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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