Fairus- In last year’s National Defense Authorization Act, Congress cut benefits to veterans by increasing co-pays for prescriptions. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the increased co-pays saved the federal government approximately $1.5 billion. (See CBO Estimate FY2016 NDAA) However, it now appears that $336 million generated from the veterans’ cuts was used to pay for 3,000 additional Afghan interpreters to be resettled in the United States. (The Daily Caller News Foundation, May 16, 2016)
Known as the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), this program was created by Congress in 2009 for Afghan employees and contractors who were employed by the U.S. government in Afghanistan any time after October 6, 2001, and who experienced an ongoing serious threat as a result of that employment. (See P.L. 111-8; 8 U.S.C. § 1101 note 26) Initially, the annual cap on SIVs issued was 1,500 but it was increased to 4,000 in the Fiscal Year 2015 NDAA before being increased again in the Fiscal Year 2016 NDAA to 7,000. (See FAIR Legislative Update, Dec. 9, 2014; Department of State SIV Guidelines)
While Afghan translators serve an important function in the ongoing war on terror, it is poor public policy to cut benefits to American citizen veterans to pay for these visas. “Military families shouldn’t be paying for the SIV program. The program should be funded outright because of the service our interpreters rendered,” said former Army combat veteran Alex Plitsas. (The Daily Caller News Foundation, May 16, 2016) There’s no reason to put veterans’ benefits on the chopping block, especially since there is overlap in jurisdiction with the State Department’s control of visa programs. (Id.)
Outrageously, it appears that several Senators want to cut veterans’ benefits again in the Fiscal Year 2017 NDAA to pay for even more SIV. An unnamed GOP Senate aide told the Daily Caller, “I’ve been told by multiple sources that they’re trying to use the co-pay hike to pay for the visa increase again this year.” (Id.) “With so much wasteful government spending that should be cut, it is befuddling how some in Congress are so eager to put military and veteran benefits on the chopping block.” (Id.)
The Senate is working on the Fiscal Year 2017 NDAA this week. Both Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have expressed a desire to increase the SIV cap but neither has explained how it would be paid for.
ht/ annie
As I recall Ryan helped with this in the House. These so called, “principled” conservatives are nefarious.
You can’t play the war hero card anymore you back stabbing sonofabitch.
I seriously wonder how much of a “hero” is was and how much his story was orchestrated by PR consultants . . . and perhaps even the North Vietnamese.
Cat’s don’t change their spots and this one is pure scum, hard to believe he hasn’t always been.
A POS is a POS no matter how you look at it.
Washington D.C. needs to be gutted and rebuilt.
The president, house, senate, the perfumed princes in the DOD and the VA have chosen to screw active, retired and wounded Veterans repeatedly the last 7 1/2 years.
The rank and file military men and women are the only segment of our government that I am actually proud of. No one knows the meaning of sacrifice more than they do.
The president, house and senate, Representatives of the people my ass, they take care of themselves, special interests, lobbyists, political insiders, major contributors, their own constituents and far, far down the list is the Military.
The low-life sons of bitches that propose and vote for this travesty are just that….low-life sons of bitches with a huge life-time retirement, posh health insurance and an elitist attitude.
You shameless, nauseating Sons of Bitches!
I held my nose and voted for this ass. Now I am told I have to hold my nose again. Trump 2016!!!!!
Congress always hurts the military first.
The retirement package is offered as an incentive, NOT AN ENTITLEMENT, to be diddled with at congressional whim.
Join, fight, we’ll take care of you in exchange for your service. Well care for your family. But then they change it all, after they are finished with using the military for their political wars. Tossed aside like their used whores.
Meanwhile, they pass tons of legislation enriching themselves, setting their own pay and raises, enriching their cronies and doing damn little, if any, real work! Plus they exempt themselves from the hardships they force upon the military and populace. They stand by or encourage the rape of America by ILLEGAL immigrants.
Stop the madness. Vote them as term ended! McCain and his ilk must be sent home with their fat entitlements and retirements!
Stockholm syndrome. Ever since the North Vietnamese turned McKainnedy, he has been aiding our enemies. Arizona should give their Senatorial delegation an enema.
Hey John. You wanna reach up and grab me an Oreo out of the cookie jar on top of the fridge? Oh. You can’t put your arms above your head to do it? What a useless PO💩 you are. Come on. Let’s go out back and have you put down…
He is the real Manchurian Candidate!!!!!