CBS19

Representative Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, issued a statement in response to the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan.

The congresswoman said in the statement that she will be involved in future discussions on Capitol Hill as a member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The statement below from Spanberger:

“The images and videos coming from Afghanistan are heartbreaking, particularly as we watch U.S. diplomats, U.S. personnel, allies, and especially Afghan civilians attempt to evacuate. For months, I have been pressing the administration to bring those who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan – including Afghan interpreters and their families – to safety, and I have serious concern for those who will suffer under Taliban rule, particularly women and girls.”

“As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I will be involved in discussions on Capitol Hill about our future engagement with Afghanistan and the lessons learned from our prolonged military presence in the country. We must ask and answer many questions to understand how we got to where we are today. As a former CIA officer who worked counterterrorism cases, I am also committed to making sure Afghanistan does not once again become a hotbed for terrorism – and in this moment, I am praying for Afghanistan and its people. And my heart is heavy as I think of the American servicemembers, intelligence officials, and diplomatic and development professionals who gave everything to the global war on terrorism and our efforts to create stability in Afghanistan over the past two decades. I thank every veteran and every Gold Star family for their personal sacrifice; it has kept our nation safe.”

Many Afghan interpreters and refugees were relocated to Fort Lee in Prince George County. Governor Ralph Northam announced that work is being done to bring in thousands of Afghan citizens to Virginia.