Washington, Jan. 25 (TNS): US Senator Rand Paul introduced a bill that would prohibit two federal agencies from sending taxpayer money to Pakistan and instead redirect the funds to domestic efforts, The Washington Times reported.
“We fail our responsibilities to protect our country and properly steward taxpayers’ hard-earned money when we support countries that chant ‘Death to America’ and burn our flag. Let’s bring that money home and use it to help rebuild our infrastructure instead of giving it to a nation that persecutes Christians and imprisons people such as the doctor that helped us get Osama bin Laden,” Paul, Kentucky Republican, said in a statement.
The bill would bar the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID, from giving the $1.28 billion and $852 million to Pakistan, respectively. Instead, the money would go towards the Highway Trust Fund.
President Trump tweeted his support for the plan earlier this month.
A similar bill will be introduced in the House by Reps. Mark Sanford, South Carolina Republican, and Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii Democrat.
