Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I strongly oppose amendment 51 to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, which would prohibit funds in this legislation from being used to aid the country of Pakistan. This amendment is misguided and counterproductive.

I traveled to Pakistan in September 2022 to assess in person the devastating flooding caused by record monsoon rains and melted glaciers in the region. More than 1,000 individuals had lost their lives to the flooding at that point, and approximately one third of Pakistan remained underwater. Pakistan produces less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is at greater risk of ecological catastrophes from climate change. The World Bank estimated that the economic costs of the damage totaled over $30 billion. Therefore, the international community should assist Pakistan in recovering from this natural disaster that was massive in scale. I am grateful for the relief funds that the U.S. has provided Pakistan, and I firmly oppose what amounts to a blanket prohibition on further relief, as this would include much needed humanitarian relief.

Blocking these funds will not only hurt Pakistan and prolong its recovery from the 2022 floods, but also give China the opportunity to provide much needed aid where American global leadership is lacking. We cannot abandon Pakistan in this time of crisis, and I urge My colleagues to oppose this amendment.

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