Rep. Jim Banks Applauds Inclusion of Afghanistan Legislation in NDAA Chairman’s Mark
WASHINGTON,
June 10, 2019
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T.W. Arrighi
(2025702510)
Rep. Jim Banks Applauds Inclusion of Afghanistan Legislation in NDAA Chairman’s Mark Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) released the following statement regarding the inclusion of language from H.R. 2060, the Ensuring a Secure Afghanistan Act, in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The language specifies a list of requirements that the Taliban must meet before U.S. troop levels may safely fall below 10,000 in Afghanistan. The bill was co-sponsored by Reps. Liz Cheney (WY-At Large), Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Michael Waltz (FL-06). Read the full bill text here. Said Rep. Banks, “The inclusion of important language pertaining to the war in Afghanistan in the House Armed Services Committee’s Chairman’s Mark, is a great step in uncovering Taliban ambitions throughout the diplomatic negotiations. As we determine funding levels of our military, it is critical that any allocation of resources reflects our military’s priorities. As negotiations with the Taliban continue it’s critical to shed light on the Taliban’s refused allegiance to the Government of Afghanistan, affiliations with terrorist groups, and our commitment to the rights of women before any deal is made. With the ongoing ISIS-K and al-Qaeda threats, we cannot afford to take a step backward. Funding our efforts in Afghanistan, and the brave men and women who serve there, should not be beholden to a short-sighted deal struck with dishonest Taliban brokers. I applaud my colleagues for addressing this concern by including this language in the legislation.” Background The full House Armed Services Committee will meet Wednesday, June 12, to markup the Chairman’s Mark and submit amendments to the bill. The markup can be viewed beginning at 10:00 am EST here. ### Congressman Jim Banks represents Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District and serves on the House Armed Services Committee, Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Committee on Education and Labor. Please direct all press inquiries to tw.arrighi@mail.house.gov.
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