Issa Announces More Americans Freed from Afghanistan
San Diego couple, both in their 80s, repeatedly blocked by the Taliban

On September 15, Congressman Darrell Issa announced that his office has facilitated the release of two more American citizens from Afghanistan. The Congressman’s constituents, a couple in their 80s, are on their way home and have officially left Kabul.

“This is a cause for celebration and the result of almost countless hours of work under very difficult conditions,” said Congressman Issa. “Our team simply would not give up, and today it paid off and we got them home.”

The names of the couple are being withheld at the request of their family, due to the continuing danger of reprisals faced by Afghan relatives of Americans who escape the country. The couple tried repeatedly over multiple weeks to get through Taliban checkpoints but were harassed and intimidated, blocking their efforts to board a plane home.

After the couple’s granddaughter, Zuhal (last name also withheld for security reasons), contacted the Issa district office, the team swiftly began its communications and logistical coordination that ultimately guided the couple out of Afghanistan. She said today, “I want to thank Congressman Issa and his staff both in Washington and California for everything they did to help my grandparents come home. We are all so grateful.”

To date, Congressman Issa’s office has helped rescue 33 members of his community from Afghanistan, including six El Cajon-area families and other Americans and SIV visa holders.

“While we have made extraordinary progress, but we’re not stopping until everyone comes home,” said Congressman Issa.

Issa Announces Pregnant American Freed from Afghanistan
Congressman: “Nasria is coming home”

On September 17, Congressman Darrell Issa announced that his team has successfully facilitated the release of Nasria, a pregnant American citizen, from Afghanistan.

“Weeks of work and countless hours of coordination paid off,” said Congressman Issa. “Nasria is finally coming home.”

Nasria is a 25-year-old pregnant American citizen from Southern California who has been stranded in Kabul since it fell to the Taliban. After her friends contacted Rep. Issa’s office, the congressman and his team immediately established communication channels with Nasria and began coordinating her safe return. Nasria leaves behind the father of her child, however, after they married in Afghanistan.

“We continue to work around the clock to ensure hundreds of American citizens stranded in Afghanistan are able to escape,” said Issa. “Nothing ends until our community is once again reunited with loved ones.”

Issa: Proud to Stand for Life and Protect the Unborn

On September 24, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) released the following statement regarding the House passage of H.R. 3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act:

“This extreme legislation marks a troubling turn on an issue in which a strong consensus exists among the American people in favor of protecting the unborn. H.R. 3755 is instead a drastic and divisive rule that overrides nearly all current pro-life protections, both at the state and federal levels.

Even worse, this bill would overturn widely agreed upon laws that protect unborn children with Down Syndrome and other disabilities, ban horrific procedures, and prevent abortions based upon a baby’s gender or race.

This is a time to stand up for our most vulnerable and deliver compassion. I call on my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to fearlessly choose life. H.R. 3755 must not become the law of the land.”

Congressman Issa-Led Bill to Protect American Consumers Passes House Judiciary Committee

On September 29, following the passage of the SHOP SAFE Act, H.R. 5375, Congressman Darrell Issa, Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet issued the following statement:

“For too long, millions of Americans have been duped into purchasing counterfeit goods on online marketplaces, and our legislation will turn the tide and provide unprecedented consumer protection,” said Congressman Issa. “With this reform, platforms that allow third-party sellers to peddle counterfeit products will finally be held responsible for this frequent fraud and damage to consumer confidence.”

The Act also specifically helps trademark holders protect their trademarks and their customers from the flood of dangerous counterfeit products entering the United States, primarily from China.

“The SHOP SAFE Act also ensures that online platforms are incentivized to engage in best practices for screening and vetting sellers and products, addressing repeat counterfeiter sellers, and ensuring that consumers have access to valid information when shopping online.”

The SHOP SAFE Act incentivizes online marketplaces to improve their ability to detect and stop counterfeit goods by protecting online marketplaces from liability if they comply with anti-counterfeiting measures, including requirements to better vet third-party sellers and provide more information to consumers about where the products they buy are originated.

Congressman Issa Rejects Debt Limit Suspension;
“Age of Unprecedented Irresponsible Spending”

Congressman Darrell Issa (CA50) hosted a constituent services webinar October 8 to share important information and raise key awareness about screening and treatment for women’s reproductive cancer. The webinar will feature patient advocates and healthcare professionals updating the latest research, treatment, and medical resources to fight and treat this deadly cancer.

In 2005, Issa sponsored Johanna’s Law (H.R. 4412), which built a new and bipartisan, bicameral coalition and dedicated a federally led outreach program to help educate patients as well as doctors and other medical professionals about reproductive cancer screening and emerging effective oncology treatments. The program has also earned bipartisan support and continuing investment since that time, and the latest authorization bill is cosponsored by Rep. Issa and Rep. Rosa DeLauro.

“By providing the limitless potential of education and awareness of gynecological cancer, Johanna’s Law has a particular potential to not only unleash action, but also deliver a guided path to treatment, healing and survival,” said Congressman Issa.

More information about Johanna’s Law is available here.

Following a brief welcome and introduction by the Congressman, the webinar will feature three reproductive cancer experts.

Chris Bledy: Chris is the Executive Director of the Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Greater California, an advocate and survivor of late stage and recurring ovarian cancer. She is the author of the book Beating Ovarian Cancer, which provides guidance on how to face and help treat ovarian cancer through small but significant lifestyle changes. Her main goals are to educate women about ovarian cancer and to help those who have the disease improve treatment and survival rates. Chris lives with her husband in Woodland Hills, California. Click here to learn more.

Robin Cohen: Robin cofounded the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation (SROCF) in 2000 and has served as CEO since 2007. Previously, she served as an oncology nurse providing care and treatment. Sandy Rollman was patient of Robin’s, and she passed away from advanced ovarian cancer in May 2000. Robin then partnered with Sandy’s sister Adriana Way to cofound SROCF with the mission to keep her memory alive and to advocate for early detection and treatment. Robin also serves as Vice-President of Board of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) and continues to work as an oncology nurse at Lankenau Hospital in the Philadelphia area. Click here to learn more.

Randalynn Vasel: Randalynn was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January of 2017 at age 36. Like many patients, her diagnosis was lengthy and followed a non-cancer misdiagnosis, rather than cancer. She faced multiple surgical procedures and chemotherapy treatment and has worked to help turn her cancer experience into an advocacy opportunity to educate patients and providers and promote treatment. She helps lead Pedal the Cause to raise reproductive cancer research funding through cycling events. Randalynn also co-hosts the Sips with Survivors podcast where she shares stories and information to educate women about the cycle of diagnosis through survivorship. Click here to learn more.

Issa Announces Additional Americans Home From Afghanistan
“True collaboration got this done and got them home”

On October 8, Congressman Issa announced that two additional Americans were freed from Afghanistan and have reached their home in the San Diego community.

“After tireless hours of work and a perilous journey in one of the world’s most dangerous regions, another family from our community is finally home,” said Congressman Issa. “The credit goes to an extraordinary group of people, especially from two of my colleagues – Congressman Markwayne Mullin and Congressman Mike Waltz – as well as several concerned citizens who refused to believe this couldn’t be done.”

“Where the Biden Administration has shown weakness, the American people have shown true strength. I am incredibly grateful to the Sentinel Foundation and the many brave Americans who have stepped up and answered the call to help,” said Congressman Mullin. “My team and I are continuing to work around the clock to rescue abandoned American citizens who want to get out of Afghanistan. We have had tremendous success, but we are not done yet and we cannot stop until every American is home.”

“I want to thank our brave veterans who helped guide this family safely out of Afghanistan and back home in the United States,” said Congressman Waltz. “Thank God these private sector groups stepped up and filled the gap left by the Biden Administration after they abandoned Americans behind terrorist lines. The State Department must begin to better coordinate with these groups, now, in a public-private partnership to ensure the hundreds of remaining Americans and their families get out as soon as possible.”

The rescued couple are both American citizens more than 80 years old and with deep roots in the San Diego region. They attempted to flee Afghanistan for several weeks and were repeatedly thwarted by the Taliban after being left behind following the Biden Administration’s chaotic departure from the country. The Mullin and Waltz Congressional offices took the lead in first advancing this vital casework, and key assistance was also provided by the Sentinel Foundation, which worked closely to assist the couple.

Congressman Issa added: “Because the Biden State Department has not fulfilled its obligations to the American citizens it left behind in Afghanistan, I am especially grateful to my friends Rep. Mullin and Rep. Waltz for leading their teams and guiding the efforts in government and among private channels that ultimately brought this family home.”

“While this is a day to celebrate, it is also a reminder than many more Americans and much more of our community remains in Afghanistan. We can’t quit until they are reunited with their loved ones.”

Congressman Darrell Issa Announces Deadline to Apply for U.S. Service Academy Nomination

On October 12, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) announced that October 29, 2021 at 4:00pm PT is the deadline for students in the 50th Congressional District of California to apply for a Congressional nomination to U.S. military academies.

“Nominating esteemed young men and women to attend one of the U.S. military service academies is a great honor,” said Congressman Issa. “These students will be the leaders of tomorrow who answer the call of their country and volunteer to stand in service to America.”

Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a Congressional nomination for appointment.

Click HERE to visit Congressman Issa’s website for more information on the military academy application and nomination process.

To request a nomination application, please email Academy.CA50@mail.house.gov.

Issa-Sponsored Bill to Protect Tribal Land
Clears Key House Committee

On October 14, Bipartisan legislation to facilitate the Pala Band of Mission Indians’ work to protect the sacred San Diego County site known locally as Gregory Mountain has cleared a key House Committee today by unanimous consent. H.R. 1975 – The Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021 – was authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) and cosponsored by Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51).

The legislation authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to transfer approximately 720 acres of land acquired by the Pala into trust for the benefit of the tribe and its members.

Rep. Issa said, ”Our tribal communities play a vital role in supporting the local economy, creating jobs, and providing essential services. That’s why it is so important to preserve their sacred and heritage sites so current and future generations continue to learn and revere each tribe’s culture and legacy. My thanks to my friend Rep. Vargas for his support in making this legislation a reality.

Rep. Vargas said, “I’m proud to join Rep. Issa to help protect the Pala Band of Mission Indians’ ancestral lands. Through H.R. 1975, we put these lands into a federal trust and ensure that Chokla, the sacred mountain to the Pala Band, is respected and protected for future traditions.”

Robert Smith, Chairman of the tribe said, “The Pala Band of Mission Indians would like to express our gratitude to Congressman Darrell Issa for the work he has done to help us protect our sacred ancestral lands. We are also grateful to Congressman Juan Vargas for his long-standing partnership in our fight to protect Chokla, our sacred mountain. Putting these lands into federal trust through H.R. 1975 ensures that the people of Pala can continue to steward our lands and traditions as we have since time immemorial. We would also like to thank the House Natural Resources Committee for moving H.R. 1975 forward and look forward to its speedy passage.”

Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 50th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and northeastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, Temecula, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.