Press Releases

WASHINGTON, September 2, 2021 — United States Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04) offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act which would require the Secretary of State to formally determine whether the new Taliban government in Afghanistan meets the definition of a state sponsor of terrorism.

“As the Biden Administration continues to indulge in the fantasy of potentially recognizing the Taliban as legitimate, Republicans stand ready to hold the regime accountable by designating it as an obvious state sponsor of terrorism like Iran and North Korea,” Johnson said. “My amendment would have made it possible for the families of those Americans killed in the Kabul airport attack to pursue legal recourse against those responsible.”

The Congressman offered the amendment during the House Armed Services Committee vote on the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Because the amendment also fell under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the amendment was withdrawn after its introduction in deference to that committee.

Read the text of the amendment here.

Congressman Johnson is the Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference, a member of the House Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, and a former constitutional law litigator.

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