The US Congress on Sunday sent President Barack Obama a giant spending bill that includes annual foreign aid packages, mild sanctions aimed at Iran, and money for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Senate by a vote of 57 to 35 approved the legislation, which now will go to Obama for his expected signature.
The package, which had already cleared the House of Representatives, includes 447 billion dollars in annual expenses, plus more than 600 billion dollars in health care expenditures. The measure includes two billion dollars, 75 million more than in 2009, to study global climate change, and allows the transfer of suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay to US soil for trial but forbids their release.
The bill requires periodic reports on the status of diplomatic efforts to freeze Iran's nuclear program, as well as on US and global sanctions on the Islamic republic, which has defied UN demands to freeze sensitive atomic work. It also forbids the US Export-Import Bank from helping any project run by firms that have a significant role in Iran's energy sector, though it would allow Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to waive such restrictions.
As part of US aid to help frontline states in the global war on terrorism with economic development, security, and good governance, the legislation includes 2.6 billion dollars in aid for Afghanistan.
It also includes 1.459 billion dollars for Pakistan, and 467 million for Iraq.
The legislation includes 2.22 billion dollars in aid to Israel, 1.3 billion for Egypt, and about 540 million in economic and security aid to Jordan.
The package also includes 231.6 million dollars in new money to help Mexico in its fight against the deadly illegal drug trade, including funds for counter-narcotics, law-enforcement and economic development. It also includes 522 million dollars for counter-narcotics efforts in Colombia, including judicial expenses and efforts to give participants in the drug trade alternative ways to make a living. And it includes 83 million for regional security and law-enforcement programs in Central American countries.
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