Bill 118 hr 10315, also known as the "Foreign Assistance Disaster Relief Act," aims to restrict the provision of foreign assistance in the event that the President declares a disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. This bill would apply to both bilateral and multilateral foreign assistance, as well as humanitarian aid.
The rationale behind this bill is to ensure that resources are prioritized for domestic disaster relief efforts before being allocated to foreign assistance programs. By withholding foreign aid in the event of a declared disaster, the bill seeks to ensure that the needs of American citizens affected by disasters are met first.
If passed, this bill would require the President to withhold foreign assistance until the disaster declaration is lifted. This would apply to all forms of non-defense foreign assistance, including economic development aid, humanitarian aid, and security assistance.
Overall, the Foreign Assistance Disaster Relief Act aims to prioritize domestic disaster relief efforts and ensure that resources are allocated effectively in times of crisis. It is important to note that this bill does not eliminate foreign assistance altogether, but rather temporarily suspends it in the event of a declared disaster.