Berks County News

Congressman Dan Meuser has introduced H.R. 9763, the No Funding Without Freedom Act, which aims to halt U.S. financial aid to Afghanistan until all wrongfully detained American citizens are released by the Taliban.

The bill responds to the detainment of American citizens Ryan Corbett and George Glezmann. Corbett, from Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, was detained in August 2022 while working in Afghanistan. Glezmann was detained in December 2022 during a cultural trip. Both men have been held in poor conditions, with their health declining.

The United States has provided $2.6 billion in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan since mid-August 2021, making it the largest donor.

Meuser stated, "Last month marked three years since the Biden-Harris Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which allowed the Taliban to seize control of the country. And despite the Taliban’s wrongful imprisonment of Americans like Ryan Corbett and George Glezmann, this administration has continued to provide billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the terror group. The United States is the largest humanitarian donor to Afghanistan, and my legislation would ensure that not one penny more will be sent until every American hostage is released. We must leverage all options, including withholding financial aid, to secure the release of Ryan and George."

Original cosponsors of the No Funding Without Freedom Act include Bill Posey (FL-08), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), French Hill (AR-02), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Greg Lopez (CO-04).

H.R. 9763 would prohibit funds from assisting Afghanistan unless the Secretary of State certifies that all unlawfully or wrongfully detained U.S. nationals in Afghanistan have been released. It also allows the President to waive this limitation if necessary for securing such releases but requires informing Congress with detailed justification.

Additionally, 30 days after enactment and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of State must report to Congress on the status of unlawfully detained U.S. nationals in Afghanistan and efforts for their release.

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