Rand Paul Introduces Legislation To End Foreign Aid To Egypt
Today, it was reported that the U.S. plans to send four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt despite the recent coup and the current political uncertainty there.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has spoken out against foreign aid to Egypt before, introduced a bill today that would end foreign aid to Egypt.
Below is the statement from Paul's press office in full:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Rand Paul today introduced legislation to prohibit the United States from sending foreign assistance to the government of Egypt, as a result of the country's military coup d'état on July 3, 2013. Click HERE to read Sen. Paul's legislation in its entirety.
This week, it was reported that the Obama Administration was moving forward with plans to deliver four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt despite the political unrest in the country. Earlier this year, the Senate voted against an amendment introduced by Sen. Paul that would have prohibited the U.S. government from selling F-16 military aircraft, M1 tanks, and similar military weapons to the Egyptian government.
"Egypt is the latest example of the Obama Administration's misguided foreign policy," Sen. Paul said. "The overthrow of the Egyptian government was a coup d'état, and the law is clear that when a coup takes place, foreign aid must stop. But, the President still plans to continue to send aid to Egypt, at a pace of more than $1.3 billion per year. By the President's refusal to call the situation in Egypt a 'coup' and continuing the flow of foreign assistance to Egypt, he is forthrightly saying 'I am ignoring the rule of law.'"
After the recent coup in Egypt there was a rare moment of agreement on foreign policy between Paul and his colleague Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who said that aid to Egypt should be suspended.
For more of Reason.com's coverage of the ongoing situation in Egypt click here.
