House rejects imposing stricter limits on Pakistan aid

The House defeated a proposal late Wednesday night to prevent the Obama administration from waiving certain restrictions on aid to Pakistan deemed to be in the national security interest.

Rep. Ted Poe’s (R-Texas) amendment to the $578 billion annual defense appropriations bill would block funds going toward Pakistan if it violates any conditions for aid. It failed on a vote of 114-318.

The bill contains a provision that no funds can be provided to Pakistan unless the State and Defense departments certify it is cooperating with the U.S. in counterterrorism efforts; not supporting terrorist activities against the U.S. or coalition forces in Afghanistan; dismantling improvised explosive devices; preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons; issuing visas in a “timely manner” for U.S. visitors; and working with humanitarian organizations to assist Pakistani civilians. 

{mosads}However, the State and Defense departments can waive the restrictions on a case-by-case basis if they establish to Congress that providing aid to Pakistan is nonetheless vital to national security.

Poe maintained that the Pakistani government can’t be trusted, offering the circumstances of the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 as an example.

“This amendment does one simple thing. It says you meet the conditions or you get no money from the United States,” Poe said.

But Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), the chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that authored the defense spending bill, said it would be counterproductive.

“We need the cooperation of the Pakistanis. If we don’t have any, we lose insight into the actions of those who would do our country harm,” Frelinghuysen said.

The House also rejected amendments to rescind funding for the train-and-equip programs for Syrian rebels and Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Final passage of the defense appropriations measure is expected Thursday, though it could potentially take place Friday depending on the number of amendments offered.