Rand Paul introduces bill to redirect funds for Pakistan to fund infrastructure

Senator (Dr.) Rand Paul of Kentucky, a long time foe of foreign aid, introduced legislation to prohibit the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from sending American taxpayer dollars to Pakistan last week.

Rand Paul on the campaign 2015 photo/ Gage Skidmore

Instead, the bill would redirect those funds, amounting to $1.28 billion from the State Department and $852 million from USAID, to the Highway Trust Fund.

“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.

“Since entering the Senate, I have worked to put Americans first by ending taxpayer support to Pakistan, and I have also repeatedly urged the country to reform laws that have led to the targeting of religious minorities, including introducing S. Res. 109 last April to call on Pakistan to end the unjust imprisonment of Pakistani Christian Aasiya Noreen, commonly referred to as Asia Bibi.

“I also recently applauded the Trump administration for its decision to maintain its block on sending $255 million in military aid to Pakistan.  The State Department built on this progress by announcing soon after that the U.S. would suspend even more funding.”

In July 2012, Dr. Paul introduced an amendment to limit foreign assistance to Pakistan unless it released Dr. Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani doctor who helped the U.S. track down and kill Osama bin Laden.

Dr. Paul introduced another amendment in September 2012 to strike the $4 billion-a-year foreign aid to Pakistan, Egypt, and Libya, which would have then provided an additional $2 billion to the $1 billion jobs bill for veterans and applied the remaining $2 billion to reducing the federal deficit.

Later that month, Dr. Paul secured a vote on standalone legislation cutting the aid contingent upon factors including the release to U.S. authorities of the aggressors who attacked our embassy and consulate in Egypt and Libya, respectively, and the release of Dr. Afridi, with nine other senators joining Dr. Paul.

In March 2016, Dr. Paul forced the Senate to vote on the sale of $700 million in F-16s to Pakistan, with 23 other senators joining Dr. Paul in opposition to the sale.

“U.S. Representatives Mark Sanford (South Carolina) and Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) are introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House, and, earlier this month, I was encouraged to see President Trump tweet his support of my proposal!

“Let’s bring this 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 Dr. Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani doctor that helped us get Osama bin Laden.”

Related:

Dr. Rand Paul: Statement honoring the annual March for Life  

Rand Paul speech on government spending most important this year: Must Watch!  

Rand Paul, Ron Wyden and Brian Schatz reintroduce the Stop Militarizing Our Law Enforcement Act

Rand Paul on Afghanistan: ‘I think it is a terrible idea to send any more troops into that war’

Rand Paul speaks out against calls for increased military presence in Syria

Rand Paul, Mike Lee send Trump letter on ‘Constitution’s balance of powers on foreign policy’

Rand Paul takes socialist Bernie Sanders to the woodshed in Price hearing