Republican bill will ban the government from charging U.S. evacuees for flights from Afghanistan

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NS The new House Republican bill banned the US government from charging US citizens for evacuation or return flights from Afghanistan and instructed the State Department and the US embassy in Kabul to sign forms. Promise to pay Up to $ 2,000 or more to leave the country.

New York Rep. Claudia Tenney, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said she introduced a flight law for freedom on Tuesday, her office said: Evacuation or return flights from Afghanistan now or at any time in the future. Both before and after The fall of KabulThe United States has instructed evacuees to update the form only on weekends, even after the Taliban takeover, and fill out a form that promises to pay more than $ 2,000 for flights from Afghanistan.

This bill systematizes the policies already stated.

“In these unique circumstances, we’re not going to ask people fleeing Afghanistan for a refund,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told the Washington Examiner Thursday.

“Thousands of Americans left in Afghanistan by the Biden administration are already afraid of their lives,” Tenney said. Said Tuesday. “They should not be forced by the US Government to fund their own life-saving flights abroad.”

Republican by Brian Mast of Florida and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, the law requires Secretary of State Antony Blinken to “exempt the costs associated with the withdrawal of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.” Will do. Afghanistan, “according to Tiffany’s office. It also “invalidates the obligation to repay promissory notes or expenses” for U.S. citizens escaping Afghanistan and “prohibits federal officials or employees from seeking or accepting funds for the evacuation of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan. To do”.

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After the Department of State issued According to a warning more than a week ago, U.S. citizens may have to pay for evacuation flights from Afghanistan, and those wishing to flee are being asked to pay. ..U.S. officials said Politico evacuation flights from Kabul would be free, but its National Security Daily Newsletter report Some sources have put it another way — including those who have stated that State Department staff are asking for up to $ 2,000 per US citizen, and more from non-citizens.

President Joe Biden Said On Tuesday, the United States evacuated 70,700 people from August 14, and 75,900 from the end of July.

The security warning on “Assistance for the Repatriation of US Citizens” posted on the website of the Overseas Security Advisory Board, which is part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the State Department, is: Release On August 14, the day before the Taliban rushed to Kabul, we provided guidance on eligibility requirements to those seeking charter flights, encouraging US citizens to take commercial flights as an option.

Part of Alert “Return flights are not free, passengers must sign a promissory note agreement and may not be eligible to renew their US passport until the loan is repaid. The cost may be more than US $ 2,000 per person. there is.”

another State Department web page “Regardless of the mode of transportation or its provider, US citizens (and others eligible for US government support) are generally responsible for reimbursing travel expenses to the government.”

The US Embassy was abandoned over a week ago. Hamid Karzai International Airport was confused when the Afghan crowd tried to flee when the Taliban marched to Kabul last Sunday following an unplanned withdrawal of US troops.

Thousands of US troops had to be sent back to the country to assist in evacuation and protect the airport. The Taliban was just outside the border, with thousands of Americans and Afghan allies stuck outside. There are numerous reports that the Taliban are blocking US citizens and Afghan allies from arriving at the airport, as well as the threat of ISIS-K. Terrorist attack I came to the front line.

US Embassy in Kabul People who were warned Last Wednesday, the US government “cannot guarantee a safe passage” to the airport for evacuation.Breaking news Contains a message About all American citizens you need to fill out “Repatriation Support Request” Form..

The second page of the form shows that each applicant’s evacuation service is not free and can cost more than $ 2,000 per person. Each US citizen was asked to fill out a checklist to show that they understood the terms or chose not to continue filling out the form.

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The Afghanistan Evacuation Web Page on the State Department website Link To the home country repatriation support request form that promised payment.

As of late Thursday night, the form is still accessible and posted on the US Embassy’s web page in Kabul. NS Daily caller report..Found by Washington Examiner Information page On Thursday’s main website of the State Department, I instructed people to fill out a form. As of Friday night in the United States and Saturday morning in Afghanistan, Requirements The payment was still there.

The “US Embassy Kabul Repatriation Assistance Request 2021” form was available on Saturday morning in the United States (or Saturday night in Afghanistan). Finally changed It no longer includes the requirement to agree to pay more than $ 2,000. Tenney’s law will set it on the stone.

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tag: news, Afghanistan, Taliban, State Department

Original author: Jerry Dunleavy

Original location: Republican bill will ban the government from charging U.S. evacuees for flights from Afghanistan



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