Rep. Mills and Rep. Issa Introduce Legislation to Ensure Proper Oversight Over Afghanistan Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Cory Mills (FL-07) and Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) introduced a bill today that clarifies the whole-of-government oversight jurisdiction of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). Congress’s intent has always been that SIGAR has the responsibility to provide transparency and conduct thorough oversight over the assistance provided to the Afghan people by the United States. However, since the United States’ catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, some agencies have sought to challenge SIGAR’s mandate.
For instance, despite several requests, the State Department and USAID have refused to hand over important documents relating to SIGAR’s oversight of assistance provided for the benefit of the Afghan people. This legislation lays to rest any dispute over SIGAR’s oversight jurisdiction. Earlier this year, Rep. Mills introduced this language as an amendment to the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2024.
“As a former Army Combat Veteran who served in Afghanistan, and as the only Member of Congress to have successfully conducted rescue missions of Americans during the botched withdrawal, I’ve seen firsthand how the Taliban operates,” said Rep. Mills. “The bottom line is that American taxpayers deserve to know if their hard-earned money is funding the Taliban or otherwise contributing to waste, fraud, or abuse. My bill will ensure SIGAR can continue to properly oversee these efforts and provide Congress and the American people transparency.”
“President Biden’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan was witnessed by the world in real time – yet public accountability and government transparency of this Administration’s fiasco is still delayed, denied, and prevented from public view by a White House that wants nothing more to turn the page on its deadly failure, said Rep. Issa. “This includes the scandal of blocking SIGAR from access to critical information about ongoing U.S. assistance to Afghanistan and the predictable diversion of international aid to the Taliban and its allies. I am thankful for the opportunity to partner with my colleague Rep. Mills on this critically important legislation. It’s time for the truth to be told.”
Read the full bill text HERE.
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