BILL NUMBER: AJR 22	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  156
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 5, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gorell

                        MAY 21, 2013

   Relative to the federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 22, Gorell. The federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009.
   This measure would call upon the United States Congress and the
President's administration to expedite actions at the United States
Department of State to process the visa applications of Afghan allies
who have been identified and vetted by the United States military or
other agencies as having risked their lives by supporting and
working for United States troops overseas, and to expand the number
of visas offered to our Afghan allies.



   WHEREAS, Thousands of Californians served in uniform in the war in
Afghanistan; and
   WHEREAS, Countless local Afghan nationals provided trusted and
life-saving support to Americans and their allies in Afghanistan as
interpreters, advisers, liaisons, and other functionaries; and
   WHEREAS, More than 8,000 Afghani interpreters worked for the
United States during the conflict, risking the lives of their
families and themselves to assist American troops and the United
States government; and
   WHEREAS, It was recently pointed out in the New York Times that
with United States Armed Forces currently withdrawing from
Afghanistan, many of the local nationals who provided support to
American forces are now the target of Taliban and other insurgent
attacks. In February 2013, two interpreters were gunned down in Logar
Province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan. In December 2012, an
interpreter working in Jalalabad was singled out while heading home
on leave, and Taliban assailants killed his two brothers in the
attack; and
   WHEREAS, The United Nations has reported that casualties resulting
from targeted killings of civilians by antigovernment elements
increased by 53 percent in the first six months of 2012, in
comparison to the corresponding period in 2011; and
   WHEREAS, The federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009
authorizes the issuance of up to 1,500 special immigrant visas (SIVs)
annually through the 2013 fiscal year to Afghan nationals who have
worked for or on behalf of the United States Government in
Afghanistan and who find their lives in danger as a consequence of
their employment; and
   WHEREAS, Although 7,500 SIVs were intended to be issued by the
federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, only about 1,000 have
been issued to date, and as of last fall, there was a backlog of more
than 5,000 applicants waiting to begin the process. This delay
further risks the lives of important, dedicated allies who have
already risked their lives in the call of duty to our soldiers and
our country; and
   WHEREAS, There are significant differences between the visa
programs created for Iraq and Afghanistan. While the Iraq program
allowed for up to 25,000 visas, the Afghan Allies Protection Act of
2009 only makes 7,500 visas available. Additionally, the Afghan visa
program limits family members to only a spouse and dependent children
under 21 years of age, while the Iraq program allowed for parents,
siblings, and all children; and
   WHEREAS, The Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 presents the
opportunity to save the lives of Afghans who saved the lives of
Americans and to maintain our commitment to these important allies
who are in harm's way; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature calls upon the United
States Congress and the President's administration to expedite
actions at the United States Department of State to process the visa
applications of our Afghan allies who have been identified and vetted
by the United States military or other agencies as having risked
their lives by supporting and working for United States troops
overseas, and to expand the number of visas offered to our Afghan
allies; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, the Speaker of the House of Representative, the Leader of the
United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the
Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.