Rep. Larsen statement on current situation in Afghanistan

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the below statement on the current situation in Afghanistan:

“Since August 1, the United States has evacuated 58,700 U.S. citizens and Afghan nationals from Afghanistan, including 230 Afghan nationals to Washington state. However, this is only a small portion of the U.S. citizens, allies and partners seeking to leave the now Taliban-controlled country. I call on the Biden administration to extend the August 31 deadline of complete military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“While the administration could and should have done more to evacuate U.S. citizens, Afghan civilians and NATO allies and partners from Afghanistan in a timely manner, the present crisis is the result of 20 years of stalled policymaking across four different administrations. As a senior member of the House Armed Service Committee, I expect Congress to press the administration to extend the timeline of withdrawal and continue to evacuate people from Afghanistan. The U.S. must show its allies and partners it will continue to stand with them.

“The State Department has taken the lead on coordinating the evacuation of people from Afghanistan under the Afghanistan Coordination Task Force (ACTF). The ACTF must continue to fulfill its obligations by safely evacuating all U.S. citizens, Afghans and NATO partners and allies who supported the U.S. in Afghanistan. I will continue to urge the administration to do everything in its power to safeguard these brave Afghans and their families and to bring U.S. citizens and diplomats home.

“My office will continue to assist individuals seeking to leave Afghanistan. If you need help with casework and are a constituent from the Second District, please call 425-252-3188 or email Larsen.Afghanistan.Assistance@mail.house.gov.”