FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 1, 2020
 Contact: Press@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a bipartisan amendment to S. 4049, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to end America’s longest war and provide bonuses to those who have deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism, empowering America to redirect the savings from ending nation-building in Afghanistan to the country’s needs at home.

The amendment, which a bipartisan majority eventually voted to table, was based on S. J. Res 12, the American Forces Going Home After Noble (AFGHAN) Service Act, which he introduced with Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) in March 2019. You can read the AFGHAN Service Act HERE. Senator Udall joined Dr. Paul in offering the amendment today.

Pointing out that the NDAA under debate contains a sense of the Senate opposing a “precipitous” withdrawal from Afghanistan, Dr. Paul stated, “We’ve been there for 20 years. How can we characterize withdrawal after 20 years, after we defeated the enemy, as ‘precipitous’? It’s crazy. The American people say, ‘Come home,’ and this is your chance. Many people have said we should end the war. Today you get to vote.”

Dr. Paul noted that the American people are “ready to declare victory” and observed, “It’s why President Trump’s message resonated with so many. He said, ‘It’s time to come home,’ and the people agreed.”  

You can watch Dr. Paul’s speech below: