WHA Letter to Congressional Leadership Urging the Passage of the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Amendment

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Dear Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries,

We write to urge you to include the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. This measure is critical to standardizing additional vetting in the pathway to legal permanent status for eligible Afghans who were relocated to the United States due to the U.S. military withdrawal.

The October 2024 arrest of Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, someone the U.S. Department of Justice has charged with conspiring with the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), underscores the urgency of this legislation. Tawhedi was admitted to the United States on temporary humanitarian parole status without a specified avenue for additional vetting aligned with the rigorous standards that the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Amendment would implement. This legislation’s 13-step national security and background checks would require interagency reviews, spanning the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense, as well as mandatory in-person interviews.

As veterans organizations serving veterans across the country, including those of the Global War on Terrorism, we know firsthand the moral and national security imperative of keeping our promises to the Afghan nationals who supported the U.S. mission and were admitted to the United States under emergency circumstances. By requiring applicants to undergo a rigorous, gold-standard vetting process, and placing those who pass and are eligible on a pathway to legal permanent status, passing the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Amendment would help alleviate any remaining security concerns about the Afghan humanitarian parole recipients in the United States. Without this legislation, we leave these Afghans in a state of legal limbo and without a comprehensive remedy for vetting concerns.

That is why the undersigned national veterans organizations urge Congress to pass the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Amendment in the NDAA or any appropriate end-of-year package.

Sincerely,

Association of Wartime Allies
Blue Star Families
National Guard Association of the United States
No One Left Behind
Operation Recovery
Special Operations Association of America
Special Forces Association
Student Veterans of America
The American Legion
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Veterans of Foreign Wars
With Honor Action

With Honor Action Calls on SASC Leadership to Pass Bipartisan Priorities led by For Country Caucus Members in the 2024 NDAA

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Washington, D.C.- After the Senate voted to go to conference with the House of Representatives, With Honor Action sent a letter to Senators Jack Reed and Roger Wicker, the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), urging them to maintain four bipartisan provisions championed by members of the For Country Caucus in the final version of the FY 2024 NDAA that would greatly contribute to US military readiness. These provisions are already included in the House-passed version of the bill and would help modernize the Department of Defense, and support military families and veterans. 

With Honor Action’s endorsed provisions for the 2024 NDAA:

  • The Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670)
    • Extends the same active duty parental leave policy to National Guard and Reserve service members by expanding eligibility beyond birthing mothers to include fathers, adoptive parents, and foster parents.
  • Military Service in Determining Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Eligibility for Federal Employees (H.R. 2670, Sec. 1118)
    • Allows a federal employee’s military service to count towards the 12 month eligibility requirement for receiving benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
  • Expands DoD’s Troops to Teachers program to include JROTC instructors and administrators and reauthorizes the program for an additional two years (HR 2670, Section 574)
    • Provides a pathway for veterans to become JROTC instructors under the DOD’s Troops to Teachers program and extends the life of the program for an additional two years.
  • Organization and Management of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Codification and Elevation of the Defense Innovation Unit (HR 2670, Section 925)
    • Codifies the DIU, establishing and identifying units in each service branch to acquire and field scalable technology, and clarifies and elevates principal DIU leaders to report directly to the Secretary of Defense.

“It is critical to our national security that we pass the National Defense Authorization Act every fiscal year. With Honor Action urges SASC leadership to support and include these critical provisions spearheaded by members of the For Country Caucus,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “These pieces of legislation are common sense ideas that would strengthen national security and national competitiveness, improve military readiness, and better support military families and veterans.”

As the conference committee goes over what will be included in the final version of the annual defense bill, With Honor Action calls on Senate Armed Services Committee leadership to include these provisions and maintain our military readiness and national security, and support our nation’s heroes and their families. The full version of the letter outlines each provision in detail and can be found below:

The Honorable Jack Reed                  The Honorable Roger Wicker
U.S. Senate                                            U.S. Senate
728 Hart Senate Office Building       425 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510                      Washington, D.C. 20510

RE: FY24 NDAA Provisions in Support of Modernizing the DoD, Military Families, and Veterans

Dear Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Wicker:
As the conference committee begins to consider the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24 NDAA), With Honor Action respectfully requests you include the provisions discussed below, which are all included in the House-passed version of the bill. These provisions substantially contribute to military family readiness, improving the lives of our veterans and modernizing our military force.

Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670)

This provision would put parental leave eligibility for members of the National Guard and Reserves on par with active-duty servicemembers. Currently, only birthing mothers are authorized to take parental leave for three drilling periods. This would extend that same leave to fathers, adoptive parents, and long-term foster care parents. To be clear, this provision only extends the same benefits to Reserve and National Guard parents that active-duty parents are already entitled to.

Military Service in Determining Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Eligibility for Federal Employees (H.R. 2670, Sec. 1118)

This legislation allows a federal employee’s military service to count towards the 12-month eligibility requirement for receiving benefits under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This would put FMLA eligibility on par with other federal benefits, such as retirement and vacation days, which already credit military service for eligibility. As you know, approximately 500,000 veterans have chosen to continue serving our nation as civil servants, comprising about 25% of the
federal workforce.

Expands DoD’s Troops to Teachers program to include JROTC instructors and administrators and reauthorizes the program for an additional two years (HR 2670, Section 574)

The Troops-to-Teachers program not only provides veterans with the path to a career as an educator but also provides kids with positive role models who served in the military. Given the ongoing recruiting crisis, such a program is a significant force multiplier for our overworked military recruiters. Failing to include this legislation will sunset this program.

Organization and Management of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Codification and Elevation of the Defense Innovation Unit (HR 2670, Section 925)

This provision codifies the DIU, establishing and identifying units in each service branch to acquire and field scalable technology, and clarifies and elevates principal DIU leaders to report directly to SECDEF. As our military seeks to modernize itself in an era of great power competition in a global environment of proliferating technology, this provision ensures that we can field new, innovative equipment that may be the difference between deterrence and war or victory and defeat.

Respectfully,
Rye Barcott, Co-founder and CEO
With Honor Action

With Honor Action Endorses the Jax Act

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Washington, D.C.- With Honor Action is proud to announce our endorsement of the Jax Act (H.R. 1753) sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, which would amend the records of female combat veterans who were never formally recognized for their service.

This legislation is named after Jaclyn “Jax” Scott, who served on a Cultural Support Team (CST) in Afghanistan. CSTs were units made up of female service members who deployed to combat zones alongside Special Operations Forces, before women were technically allowed to serve in combat roles. Because of this, they were never recognized for their combat service and missed out on rank, benefits, and health services.

“This is long overdue. These women served with courage and commitment alongside our Navy SEALS and Army Rangers,” said With Honor Action Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott. “Hundreds of women put their lives on the line without hesitation to fight with and support our military and should be treated as such.”

Annie Kleiman, a former With Honor Action Inaugural board member, and Rebekah Edmondson were members of a CST and trained Afghan women to serve as special operators in the Afghan National Army. They went on multiple deployments to Afghanistan and their service would finally be recognized with passage of the Jax Act.

“My CST sisters and I joined the program because we wanted to be part of something bigger than ourselves. But as women serving with Special Operation Forces units before the ground combat ban was lifted, we are also used to having our service questioned and minimized,” said Annie Kleiman. “The JAX act is an important step in validating our service, and I am grateful to the members of Congress and organizations supporting this legislation.”

“None of us served as CSTs for recognition, but truth be told, we were out there dodging the same rounds as our male counterparts. Passing the Jax Act would be a step in the right direction to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifices made and honor our colleagues, 1st Lt. Ashley White and Capt. Jennifer Moreno, who was killed in action while deployed as CSTs,” said Rebekah Edmondson.

The Jax Act has strong bipartisan support in the House from For Country Caucus members Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Pat Ryan, Rep. Seth Moulton. Rep. Zach Nunn, and Rep. Chris Deluzio as well as in the Senate with Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Sen. Dan Sullivan.  The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Special Operations Associations of America (SOAA) have also all supported the bill. Congress must pass this legislation and formally recognize Cultural Support Teams as combat veterans.

Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act Letter

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The Honorable Jack Reed                                                         The Honorable Mike Rogers
728 Hart Senate Office Building U.S. Senate                        2469 Rayburn House Office U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Roger Wicker                                                  The Honorable Adam Smith
425 Russell Senate Office Building U.S. Senate                   2264 Rayburn House Office Building U.S. House of Representatives

RE: Including the Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670) in the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act

Dear Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith:

We write in support of Section 601 of the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. This important provision puts parental leave eligibility for members of the National Guard and Reserves on par with active-duty servicemembers so that all parents can spend these critical first three months with their new children.

The undersigned organizations urge you to keep this section intact during conference in order to support our Reserve and National Guard servicemembers and their families. Under current law for drilling members of the Reserves and National Guard, only birth mothers are authorized to take parental leave for three monthly drilling periods upon the birth of a child. Section 601 expands this authorization to include all new parents—including fathers, adoptive parents, and parents of children newly placed in long-term foster care settings. To be clear, this provision only extends the same benefits to Reserve and National Guard parents that active-duty parents are already entitled to.

At a time when we are seeing recruiting and retention challenges across the services, this simple fix helps to ensure that all military parents are fully and equally supported as they build their families. This parental leave allows Reservists and Guardsmen to focus on settling into their new family routine before returning to monthly drills, where they can then focus more intentionally on their military mission.

Section 601 was included on a bipartisan basis in the House-passed NDAA and has bipartisan support in the Senate. It closes a gap for Reserve and National Guard members and allows their parental leave benefits to apply to mothers as well as fathers bringing a new child into the home. We respectfully urge you to retain this section in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to support all of our military families.

Sincerely,

Blue Star Families
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS)
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
With Honor Action

 

 

With Honor Action to Congress: Pass The Pay Our Troops Act

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Washington, DC — With Honor Action is calling on Congress to pass H.R. 5641, the Pay Our Troops Act immediately, to protect military pay in the instance of a possible government shutdown.

While previous shutdowns have not impacted military pay, currently Congress has not passed legislation ensuring that soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, cadets and guardians are protected. We can never let our service men and women go without pay, putting their financial security at risk and weakening our national defense.

The Pay Our Troops Act, co-sponsored by numerous members of the bipartisan For Country Caucus, will protect members of the military, including the Coast Guard, as well as certain U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees should Congress fail to provide temporary or full-year federal funding by September 30, 2023.

Lawmakers push bill to help Afghan evacuees, allies still in Afghanistan 2 years after US withdrawal

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Lawmakers push bill to help Afghan evacuees, allies still in Afghanistan 2 years after US withdrawal
By Matthew Adams
September 14, 2023

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2023-09-14/afghanistan-evacuees-legislation-house-withdrawal-11377146.html

WASHINGTON — Six House lawmakers said Thursday that they are still pushing for legislation that would help Afghans now in the U.S. gain citizenship and assist allies who remain in Afghanistan, two years after U.S. forces withdrew from the country.

“We have miles to go to fulfill our promise to those who fought and died with our soldiers in Afghanistan. Their bravery deserves more, so much more than legislative gridlock,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, who sponsored the legislation in the House.

Miller-Meeks was joined at a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol by Reps. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, Jeff Jackson, D-N.C., Michael Waltz, R-Fla., Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., to stress the need for legislation to be passed soon to help these Afghans.

The Afghan Adjustment Act was first introduced in the House and Senate in August 2022 but failed to pass. The bill was reintroduced in both chambers on July 13. Miller-Meeks is the sponsor for the House’s version, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is the sponsor in the Senate.

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended Aug. 31, 2021, concluded 20 years of war in Afghanistan for the United States. It also marked the return of Taliban rule in the country, rolling back many human rights in the past 20 months, particularly for women.

The American pullout included the evacuation of thousands of Afghan nationals who fled the country with the U.S. military. The chaotic withdrawal also led to the deaths of 13 service members who were killed at the Kabul airport by suicide attackers.

“After every major conflict, we’ve passed an adjustment act to make sure that we honor the obligation to the people who put their lives on the line to help us,” said Jackson, one of 35 co-sponsors on the bill.

Jackson, who is a major in the Army National Guard, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2002 and served in the Kandahar province in Afghanistan. He said Thursday that his missions in Afghanistan always included an interpreter. Everyone knew if something went wrong and they found themselves in an ambush, the interpreter would be the first person shot or killed.

“[The interpreter] also knew that when he decided to help us, he put his entire family at risk … and he was willing to do that because he felt it was the right thing for his country — helping us,” Jackson said. “The reason he was confident in doing that was because we told him that we would have his back. Having his back means not just what happens when you’re out there on a mission, [it] means what happens after the fight is over.”

There are more than 80,000 Afghan allies now in the U.S., said Rye Barcott of With Honor Action, the co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit that looks to promote and advance veteran leadership in public service.

Miller-Meeks said lawmakers are open to getting this bill in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the annual Pentagon policy and spending priorities bill, or possibly adding it to another bill to get it passed. She said the bill is gaining momentum and hopes that the more exposure it gets, the more pressure it puts on members of Congress to act.

“We have to separate the people who came over in the airlift … and separate that from the botched withdrawal,” the congresswoman said. “These are people in the United States who we need to help, and we still have Afghan interpreters and allies who are in the Middle East … who we need to extract.”

ICYMI: With Honor Action Hosts Press Conference to Support our Afghan Allies

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WASHINGTON, DC — With Honor Action, along with members of the bipartisan For Country Caucus, held a press conference earlier today, calling for support for our wartime Afghan allies.

August marked two years since the fall of Kabul, and much work remains to be done to support our Afghan allies, both at home and abroad. With Honor Action, along with members of the For Country Caucus, is committed to fulfilling America’s promises to those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us for more than two decades in our nation’s longest war.

“America gave her word to our wartime allies: stand with us and we will stand with you,” said Rye Barcott, With Honor Action CEO & Co-Founder. “It’s time we keep our word. Leaving our allies behind is unacceptable and damaging to our national security.”

L-R: Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Miller-Meeks, Rye Barcott, Rep. Nunn (at podium), Rep. Waltz, and Rep. Jackson

Press conference attendees included:

  • Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03)
  • Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)
  • Rep. Jeff Jackson (NC-14)
  • Rep. Michael Waltz (FL-06)
  • Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01)
  • Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06)

Currently, there are two pieces of bipartisan legislation under consideration in the U.S. House focused on supporting our Afghan allies. The Afghan Adjustment Act, led by For Country Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, would provide Afghan refugees the opportunity to apply for permanent residence rather than being subject to traumatizing and complex asylum processes, expand eligibility in the special immigrant visa (SIV) program, and provide additional vetting to address any security concerns. The Afghan Allies Protection Act, led by For Country Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jason Crow and For Country Caucus member Rep. Brad Wenstrup, would extend the life of the Afghan SIV program, provide an eligibility exemption for those injured or killed in the line of duty, and authorize an additional 20,000 special immigrant visas.

These two pieces of legislation address our commitments to our wartime allies by: 1) granting them the ability to settle in the United States permanently through the Afghan Adjustment Act and 2) providing more special immigrant visas to those who have been left behind, through the Afghan Allies Protection Act.

With Honor Action Calls on Congress to Help Our Afghan Allies

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Check out this recent letter that With Honor Action and 23 other Veteran Service Organizations signed on to urging Congressional leadership to help our Afghan allies in their time of need.

August 15, 2023

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer                                 Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
322 Hart Senate Office Building                                 317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510                                                 Washington, DC 20510

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy                       Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
2468 Rayburn House Office Building                         2433 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515                                                  Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator Schumer, Speaker McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Jeffries,

We represent 24 unique veterans groups and write in support of protecting our Afghan allies. Tens of thousands of Afghans were left to the mercy of the Taliban when Kabul fell in 2021, unable to escape when coalition forces evacuated. They are interpreters who served in American units, members of the Afghan Air Force and Special Forces, female Afghan Security Forces members, judges, prosecutors, civil servants, journalists, teachers and more – they were our partners and friends, and they are fierce opponents of the Taliban. Today they are pursued by a murderous and radical regime set on revenge.

America gave these important allies and partners her word: stand with us and we’ll stand by you. To betray the trust that they placed in the United States would represent an intolerable moral failure and a stain on America’s conscience that would last generations. The compromise of our credibility and leadership on the world stage would be profound.

For two years, thousands of Afghans have been ruthlessly pursued by the Taliban and left in American bureaucratic limbo. The moral imperative is clear and the time to act is now.

We respectfully urge you to come to an appropriate legislative solution by the end of the calendar year 2023, whether it be in the National Defense Authorization Act, a consolidated appropriations bill (omnibus), or through regular order.

We ask that you prioritize the visa backlog for all at-risk Afghan allies and swift implementation of adequate vetting protocols in this agreement to protect our national security while keeping our promises.

We served and shed blood alongside many of these brave Afghans, whose only sin was to pursue a better democratic future for their country. Please do not allow them to be ignored and unprotected for another legislative calendar year. Their lives could well depend on whether America keeps her promise.

With respect and gratitude,

With Honor Action
No One Left Behind
POLARIS National Security
Moral Compass Federation
REACT DC
Operation Pineapple Express Relief
Task Force Argo
Blackfeather Foundation
1208 Foundation
Save Our Allies
Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches
Afghan Free
Flanders Fields Limited
Project Exodus Relief
Special Operations Association of America
Heart of an ACE
Operation Recovery
Operation Sacred Promise
NATO Afghanistan Justice Sector Project
UNCN
Operation Allies Refuge Foundation
Badger Six
Lifeline Foundation
Freedom Bird

MEMO: Assistance for our Afghan Allies

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MEMORANDUM

To: All Interested Parties
From: With Honor Action
Re: Assistance for our Afghan Allies
Date: 8/17/23

Current State:
As we mark two years since the fall of Kabul, there is still work to be done to safeguard our Afghan allies. With Honor Action is committed to fulfilling America’s promises to those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us for over two decades. That means passing the Afghan Adjustment Act and giving our wartime allies a safe and legal way to build their lives in America, free from the threat of the Taliban.

What With Honor Action is Doing:
Over the last few months, With Honor Action has met with numerous members of Congress, highlighting the desperate pleas of our Afghan allies who are currently living in limbo, facing the threat of getting sent back into danger and chaos, and the need for the passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act.

We also partnered with an all-female Afghan tactical Platoon, to push this legislation forward. Hear their story here on their work with the U.S. military, the pain of leaving their families behind, and their fight for a safe future.

What is the Afghan Adjustment Act?
The Afghan Adjustment Act is a first step toward keeping our word as a nation and honoring the debt owed to our Afghan allies. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence for Afghans already in America, offering them a way out of legal limbo and the looming threat of deportation. Congress has historically passed similar legislation for other displaced populations on humanitarian grounds, including Vietnamese and Korean refugees.

The Afghan Adjustment Act would improve and expand the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program by broadening SIV eligibility to include groups that worked and fought alongside U.S. forces, like the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command and the Afghan Female Tactical Teams.

What Would the Bill Do?
Allow Afghans who are on humanitarian status and submit to additional vetting — including an in-person interview — to apply for permanent legal status in the United States . For these Afghans, the primary options under current law to gain permanent status are through our broken asylum system or the burdensome SIV process, which has a current backlog of over 140,000 applications

Expands the SIV program to include previously omitted groups, including the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command, the Afghan Air Force, and the Special Mission Wing of Afghanistan

Establish a US task force to develop and implement a strategy for supporting Afghans outside of the United States who are eligible for SIV status

Require the Department of State to respond to congressional inquiries about SIV applications

Current Sponsors of the Afghan Adjustment Act:

H.R. 4627:
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) & Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Co-sponsors: 31 (15 Republicans, 16 Democrats)

S. 2327:
Lead Sponsors: Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Senator Lindsey Graham (SC)
Co-sponsors: 12 (6 Republicans, 6 Democrats)

Support Overview

H.R. 4627 has significant bipartisan support as the bill is co-sponsored by 32 members, 9 of whom are members of the cross-partisan For Country Caucus.

The Senate companion bill, S. 2327, is also being led with bipartisan leadership in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees this issue, and other leaders on key Senate committees.

What They Are Saying:

Fox News: Army veteran seeks to save Afghan commando from Taliban

Fox News: Army vet seeks to save Afghan commando stuck in Turkey, living in fear of Taliban

The Hill: Afghan Adjustment Act will allow families like mine to find stability, opportunity in America

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Applauds Reintroduction of Afghan Adjustment Act

Washington Post: She was lucky to escape Afghanistan. Two years later, she’s stuck in limbo.

ABC: Refugee resettlement leaders in Kansas call for passage of Afghan Adjustment Act

Human Rights First: Former Military Commanders Support Afghan Adjustment Act

CBS19: Bill reintroduced to help Afghan refugees seeking legal residency in U.S.

CBS: Tens of thousands of Afghans in U.S. could lose deportation protections unless Congress acts

The Soapbox: Time Is Running Out for Congress to Help Our Afghan Allies

Fox News: We cannot forget our Afghan heroes and our promise to help them

Vox: An act of Congress could grant legal status to thousands of Afghan allies. What’s the holdup?

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