Subject: New York Times Editorial Board Endorses Rep. Moulton's Effort in Defense Bill
From: "Billerbeck, Peter" <[email-masked]>
To: "Billerbeck, Peter" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 16:16:39 +0000

View this email in your browser<http://us13.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d1381fef962222b31d9f47068&id=08aa469a97&e=>

[https://gallery.mailchimp.com/d1381fef962222b31d9f47068/images/645ea5bb-bb9c-4680-8893-ed9635b6d481.jpg]

Special Foreign Policy Update From Seth Moulton

We wanted to share with you the New York Times Editorial Board's article endorsing Congressman Seth Moulton’s (D-MA) efforts on the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017. Feel free to share with friends and colleagues.

 -Peter Billerbeck

[https://gallery.mailchimp.com/d1381fef962222b31d9f47068/images/3353798b-c22a-4452-8d11-581f33dbf753.png]

Don’t Abandon America’s Afghan Helpers

By: THE EDITORIAL BOARD
The New York Times

April 29, 2016

The House Armed Services Committee approved a version of the 2017 defense spending bill on Thursday that would leave thousands of Afghan interpreters who worked for the American government in Afghanistan in the lurch.

More than 10,000 applicants, many of whom submitted petitions years ago and are now under threat in their country, are waiting for visas to get to the United States. However, the State Department can approve only about 4,000 applications, given the number of visas currently authorized by Congress.

The committee’s bill provides no additional visas and imposes unreasonable eligibility criteria for applications made after next month. Under the bill, only interpreters who worked with military personnel in the field would be eligible for resettlement. That is senseless, since many interpreters who worked on military bases or in government offices are in similar danger.

The visa program, which has long enjoyed bipartisan support, has become a target of lawmakers who want to limit immigration to the United States, including Representative Bob Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia, chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

When the Senate and the House versions of the defense bill are reconciled next month, lawmakers should increase the visa numbers to clear the backlog of pending cases. They should not change the eligibility standard and they should require the State Department to establish a reasonable appeals process for applicants who have been rejected without a clear explanation.

“These are people who have put their lives on the line not just for their country, but for ours,” Representative Seth Moulton, a former Marine Corps officer, said Wednesday<http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4591147/congressman-seth-moulton-reads-amendment-afghan-resettlement-united-states> as he introduced an amendment to create additional visas. “The very least we can offer them is a chance to stay alive.” Mr. Moulton and other lawmakers who have served in the military intend to propose sensible changes as the bill moves forward. Their colleagues should listen to them.

Read the full editorial here<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/29/opinion/dont-abandon-americas-afghan-helpers.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0>

In Case You Missed It...

In February, Congressman Moulton delivered a foreign policy address at the Atlantic Council as part of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security’s flagship series, “America’s Role in the World.” The speech, “No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy: American Foreign Policy for the Next President,” can be viewed here<https://moulton.house.gov/uncategorized/congressman-seth-moulton-delivers-foreign-policy-address-at-atlantic-council>.

[Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/RepMoulton/?fref=ts>
[Rep. Seth Moulton on Twitter]<http://www.twitter.com/TeamMoulton>
[Rep. Seth Moulton on the web]<http://moulton.house.gov>

Peter Billerbeck · 1408 Longworth House Office Building · Washington, DC 20515 · USA