Blumenauer on Victory for Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa Program, Base Improvements, Missed Opportunity for Greater Defense Reforms

Statement

Today, in the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress extended the Iraqi Special Immigration Visa (SIV) program for 9 months and secured critical reforms for both the Iraq and Afghanistan SIV programs. In addition, the State Department can continue to process SIV applications for as long as it takes, until they hit the new cap of 2,500 SIVs. Some of the essential reforms include greater transparency, authorization for applicants to hire legal counsel to be present during their interview, appointment of senior embassy staff to oversee the reform process, and a requirement for all applications to be completed within 9 months, with an exception for national security concerns.

These Iraqi translators and guides risked their lives to assist American soldiers. In 2007, I worked to create the SIV program to, in some small way, pay back our dedicated allies and show them what kind of country the US is. At that time, we made a promise to take in those who had served us when the American presence was scaled down and they no longer had our protection. Now, at least for the next year, we can keep that promise.

Starting tomorrow, the real work begins. I will continue my efforts to extend the Iraqi SIV program further, making sure that every translator and guide that put their life on the line for our troops has a chance to come to the country he or she helped protect. I will also fight until the SIV program for Afghan translators, who risked their lives just as bravely as their Iraqi counterparts, is extended as well so that they and their families are out of harm's way.

I'm also pleased that the NDAA includes my amendment that will require all Department of Defense new construction and redevelopment to increase the quality of life for our service members and their families by requiring our military installations to be more livable. Our military families deserve the very best, and ensuring our bases are planned and built in a way that promotes close-knit communities, where you can walk instead of drive your car, and have shared and green spaces to make difficult times more bearable, is essential.

Our victories in expanding the Iraqi SIV program and increasing military quality of life, however, were not enough to salvage the entire bill, and I voted against NDAA. This legislation wastes too much money and is a missed opportunity for greatly needed reform. For example, the bill spends $7.9 billion maintaining a nuclear stockpile that is enough to destroy the world several times over. Wouldn't it be better to reduce that arsenal and fully fund SNAP and other programs that help poor and hungry American families? Congress needs to show leadership and prove that we have the ability to make difficult choices. We have to acknowledge that recklessly funding an antiquated military strategy undermines our security. Crumbling bridges and roads, failing schools, and a massive national debt all put us at greater risk than modest and reasonable cuts to defense spending, so I could not support the bill.

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