02/01/2023 | Press release | Archived content
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Rick Scott (R-FL), and six colleagues introduced a bill to establish a bipartisan, bicameral Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan to conduct a full investigation into President Biden's failed withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan that stranded hundreds of Americans behind enemy lines, left billions of dollars in U.S. military equipment in the hands of terrorists and took the lives of 13 brave U.S. service members. This joint select committee would follow the precedent set in the aftermath of the Iran-Contra affair.
"Not long ago, we saw Afghanistan fall and 20 years of work collapse with it. 13 U.S. service members were lost in President Biden's botched withdrawal. The country deserves answers," said Dr. Cassidy.
"President Biden's misguided and dangerous decisions in his botched withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan led to the United States' most stunning, unforced, and humiliating defeat in decades. Due to President Biden's carelessness and failed leadership, 13 U.S. service members were lost, billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment were left for the Taliban, hundreds of American citizens were stranded behind enemy lines and Afghanistan has been returned to the Taliban, and now rests in the hands of the same terrorist-coddling extremists who ruled it on September 11, 2001. The world is now a more dangerous place and the American people are rightfully demanding answers. For over a year, I have called for a bipartisan and bicameral investigation into the Biden administration's failed withdrawal of American forces and my calls have been met with silence. That's why today, I am reintroducing my bill to establish a bipartisan and bicameral Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan to conduct a full investigation and compile a joint report on the United States' tragically failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. It's time to put partisan politics aside and demand accountability," said Senator Scott.
Cassidy and Scott were joined by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mike Braun (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and John Hoeven (R-ND).
The bipartisan and bicameral Joint Select Committee shall conduct an investigation into the United States' withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan and report its findings to Congress including:
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