GOP lawmakers demand greater oversight of chaotic Afghanistan evacuation

FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans are seeking greater oversight of the chaotic Afghanistan evacuation, with new legislation designed to hold President Biden's State Department accountable.

GOP Reps. Young Kim of California, Elise Stefanik of New York and Michael McCaul of Texas are introducing legislation known as the RESCUES Act to establish more congressional oversight of the management of private Afghanistan evacuation operations.

"Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan needlessly left behind American citizens and Afghan allies," Stefanik, the GOP Conference chairperson, said in a statement first reported by Fox News Digital. "Americans deserve to know their taxpayer dollars are being put to good use by providing for the rescue of those left stranded, so we must have clarity and accountability from the Department of State."

The legislation is called the Rescue Endangered SIVs and Citizens and Urgently Evacuate to Safety (RESCUES) Act of 2022, and it targets the ongoing efforts to get American citizens and Afghan allies out of the Taliban-controlled country.

The bill would require the secretary of state to provide a report to the House and Senate foreign affairs committees on "funding provided by the Department of State to nongovernmental entities for the purposes of evacuating covered individuals from Afghanistan."

According to the bill text, a "covered individual" is a national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, an Afghan who has a special immigrant visa or applied for one, or an Afghan national who is being processed under the U. S. Refugee Admissions Program.

Thirteen U. S. service members lost their lives in the chaotic and deadly evacuation effort from the Kabul airport. The Biden administration ended military-led evacuations by Aug. 31, marking the end of the 20-year war.

But not everyone got out in time and private organizations and congressional offices have been trying to step up and fill the void. The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote that the State Department in November was tracking 126 Americans still in Afghanistan, with five ready to depart. Capitol Hill has been frustrated with a lack of transparency and a... (Read more)

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