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Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul released the following statement in response to licenses issued by Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control today that provide broad sanctions carveouts that could benefit the Taliban. 

“I have consistently supported efforts to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance directly to the Afghan people, who are suffering under Taliban rule. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration’s shortsighted decision to offer broad sanctions carveouts could result in using American taxpayer funds to reward, legitimize and enable the same Taliban that took power by force and has shown no interest in abiding by international norms. Worse yet, providing these exemptions under the guise of “humanitarian aid”, and without any prior consultation with Congress, further undermines bipartisan support and faith in the administration’s transparency and decision making. I remain deeply frustrated that the administration still can’t confirm what assistance programs have been restarted. This committee must be permitted to conduct oversight of foreign assistance resources and priorities.”

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