HR 4995
Enduring Welcome Act of 2025
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Bill overview
The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the U.S. government’s efforts to support Afghan allies who were relocated to the United States following the withdrawal of troops. It establishes an Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the Department of State to improve coordination and oversight of the resettlement process. The bill focuses on streamlining the application and relocation process, facilitating family reunification, and maintaining a centralized database to track Afghan applicants and relocated individuals, while also providing regular reports to Congress on the progress of these efforts.
Key provisions
- Creates an Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the Department of State.
- Establishes a centralized database to track Afghan applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals.
- Assigns responsibilities to the Coordinator, including supporting voluntary departure, coordinating interagency vetting, and facilitating relocation logistics.
- Mandates regular reporting to Congress on the status of Afghan relocation efforts.
- Defines ‘covered person’ to include U.S. citizens, family members of Afghan allies, and those participating in resettlement programs.
- Requires the collection of detailed data on Afghan applicants and relocation progress.
- Provides for the secure maintenance of the database, with classified information available for operational reporting.
- Sets a five-year sunset provision for the Act and its associated authorities.
Who is affected
- Afghan refugees and special immigrant visa applicants
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large] Radewagen
Becca [D-VT-At Large] Balint
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 4995
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To modify the responsibilities of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Enduring Welcome Act of 2025
.
Congress finds the following:
The Enduring Welcome program is the safest, most secure legal immigration pathway to the United States.
Failing to reunite active-duty United States military personnel and veterans with their Afghan family members in the Afghan relocation pipeline is harmful to the United States servicemember community.
A review conducted by Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General released on June 10, 2025, concluded that the process for vetting applicants for Afghan SIVs is rigorous and effective in protecting United States national security.
Section 7810 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in the subsection heading, by striking of coordinator
; and
in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
by inserting before The Secretary
the following: The Secretary shall establish an Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts in the Department of State.
; and
by inserting before who shall be responsible for
the following: who shall be the head of the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, and
;
by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
supporting the voluntary departure of covered persons who request assistance departing Afghanistan;
leading coordination of interagency efforts relating to vetting, security screening, and case processing of eligible Afghan allies in the Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense;
facilitating relocation and resettlement logistics in coordination with resettlement support centers and United States-based resettlement agencies;
addressing family reunification barriers, including cases involving United States active-duty servicemembers and veterans;
coordinating integration support, including trauma recovery and medical care, with other Federal agencies;
maintaining and analyzing a centralized, secure database of Afghan applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals to inform operations and ensure transparency; and
providing timely information to Congress on the status of Afghan relocation efforts and progress made under this mandate.
the number of family reunification cases pending, approved, and completed;
the average time between application, vetting, relocation, and resettlement;
the number of individuals who have been denied or administratively closed out, and the reason for such actions;
the number of active-duty United States military and veteran-linked cases involving family separation; and
such other information as the Secretary of State or Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts may prescribe.
The Secretary of State shall establish and maintain a secure, centralized database to maintain the information collected pursuant to subsection (a).
The information in the database established pursuant to this subsection may be in classified form to the extent necessary but such information shall be usable for operational reporting, oversight, coordination across relevant Federal departments and agencies, and regular reporting to Congress.
the number of covered persons with pending relocation cases or appeals before the United States Government; and
the estimated population of eligible covered persons which remains to be resettled.
In this Act:
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
The term covered person means—
a United States citizen;
an immediate relative (as such term is described in section 201(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151)) with respect to whom a petition has been approved and all required documents have been received;
an alien who has been admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident;
a spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 of an alien described in subparagraph (C) with respect to whom a petition has been approved, all required documents have been received, and who has a current priority date as of the date on which the individual seeks assistance from the Coordinator;
a spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 of an alien described in subparagraph (E) who has been issued a visa or with respect to whom the Chief of Mission has approved their application, and with respect to whom all documents have been received;
the primary caregiver of a surviving child described in section 602(b)(2)(C) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note), or a spouse or an unmarried child under the age of 21 of such a primary caregiver.
3and inserting
5.