Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
04/08/2025 10:15 AM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR10 | |
| HJR13 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 13-AFGHANS, SP. IMMIGRANT VISAS, ASSISTANCE
10:26:17 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13, Urging the President of the
United States to expand evacuation efforts for applicants with
approved Special Immigrant Visas, including resumption of
evacuation flights organized by the Coordinator for Afghan
Relocation Efforts; urging the United States Department of State
to secure legal protections and humanitarian assistance for
Special Immigrant Visa applicants; and requesting that the
United States Secretary of State provide a report to Congress
regarding efforts to reinstate evacuation flights for applicants
with approved Special Immigrant Visas.
10:27:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HJR 13 to the committee. He read from the
sponsor statement for HJR 13 [included in the committee file],
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
After the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation,
the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom
(OEF) on October 7, 2001. The primary purpose of the
mission was to address the issue of Al-Qaeda influence
in Afghanistan. During OEF, Afghani nationals assisted
our US servicemembers as translators and interpreters
throughout their mission. The acts of these Afghani
nationals provided necessary communication and
understanding of cultural norms. In 2006, the Special
Immigrant Visa (SIV) program was established as part
of the Afghan Allies Protection Act and was expanded
in 2008 to include Iraqi nationals who assisted in the
same capacity in Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom
(OIF). This program allowed those who assisted us to
apply and gain permanent US residency. Since the
botched evacuation of US forces in Afghanistan in
2021, processing and approval of these SIV's and the
subsequent evacuation of these Afghani nationals and
their families have been delayed or stalled. HJR 13
aims to rectify this by respectfully urging the
President of the United States to order the US
Secretary of State to resume, expand, and expedite the
processing of these SIV applications and the
evacuations of these individuals and their families.
These Afghani citizens risked their lives and the
lives of their families under Taliban rule to assist
our servicemembers during Operation Enduring Freedom,
on the promise that their service could be repaid with
a chance at permanent US residency. We must honor our
promises as a nation and do our best to assist these
allies.
10:30:58 AM
HENRY THOMPSON, Staff, Representative Will Stapp, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Stapp, prime sponsor,
presented HJR 13 to the committee. He explained how the Defense
Authorization Act of 2006 allowed for up to 50 translators from
Iraq or Afghanistan to receive special immigrant visas to the
United States. He emphasized the importance of their work and
qualities they possess to become U.S. citizens.
10:32:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Representative Stapp to recite some
of the legislative actions that the United States Congress has
taken to realize the promises that were made to U.S. allies in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP referred to Public Law 242 and Public Law
11036, both of which concerned special immigrant visas for Iraqi
and Afghan translators working with the U.S. armed forces.
10:34:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked Representative Stapp if he would be
amenable to an amendment that would allow for Iraqi and Afghan
refugees to bring their families to the U.S. with them.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP said that he would be open to amending the
proposed legislation.
10:37:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked how HJR 13 might help to improve
U.S. relations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP said, "What's right is right and what's
wrong is wrong," and he emphasized the importance of taking
corrective action in the name of doing the right thing.
10:39:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD commented that she doesn't want to see the
proposed legislation "killed" by an amendment that would include
Iraqi and Afghan refugees to bring their families to the U.S.
with them.
10:40:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HALL asked a clarifying question with regards to
page 3, lines 5, 9, and 14.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY clarified that the legislation would cover a
series of different types of refugee statuses in Alaska.
10:41:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY shared that he had had communications with
the refugee coordinator for Alaska.
10:44:36 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID commented that he was "very pleased" to see the
resolution before the committee.
10:45:31 AM
JOE SABOE, Founder, Team America Relief, gave invited testimony
in support of HJR 13. He began his testimony by sharing his
time serving the U.S. Army in Iraq with Representative Stapp and
shared his ashamedness at the way that Iraqi veterans living in
the U.S. were being treated by the U.S. Government. He
emphasized the importance of special immigration visas and their
impact on both the U.S. and Alaska. He explained the importance
of expediting special immigration visas for Iraqi and Afghan
collaborators.
10:50:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HALL thanked Representative Stapp for his work on
HJR 13.
10:51:27 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID announced that HJR 13 would be held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 10 Zero Fiscal Note.pdf |
HMLV 4/8/2025 10:15:00 AM |
SJR 10 |
| HJR013A.DOC.pdf |
HMLV 4/8/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 13 |
| HJR 13 Sponser Statement version A.pdf |
HMLV 4/8/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 13 |