Capital District Times

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik issued a statement regarding the Biden-Harris Administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

“The House Foreign Affairs Committee report provides detailed evidence to support what we have known for three years: the Biden-Harris Administration caused the deadly and catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. To make matters worse, the investigation also reveals that the Biden-Harris Administration has consistently lied and covered-up key details about the withdrawal that point to their complicity."

Stefanik continued, "This report is a painful reminder of what American weakness causes on the world stage. The Taliban and other terrorist organizations now control over $7 billion worth of U.S. defense equipment, Afghanistan is experiencing a resurgence of terrorist activity, and our adversaries from Communist China to Russia to Iran are emboldened."

"The Biden-Harris Administration chose politics and optics over the lives of our troops," Stefanik added. "As the Representative for Fort Drum and the 10th MTN Division, the most deployed Army Division since 9/11, I am appalled at the callous disregard revealed in this report that the Biden-Harris Administration had for the safety of our service members and those that gave their life in Afghanistan to protect the freedoms we hold close."

Stefanik concluded by stating, "It is long past time that we hold the Biden-Harris Administration responsible for this catastrophic withdrawal and this report will enable us to do so. House Republicans and all Americans thank Chairman McCaul for his unwavering resolve in conducting this investigation.”

The full statement can be accessed via [this link](https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/9/stefanik-statement-on-holding-biden-harris-administration-responsible-for-failed-afghanistan-withdrawal).