US Congress trims foreign aid budget, boosts defense

The US House of Representatives on Thursday proposed trimming foreign aid and increasing defense spending, mainly for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The plan will add 1.8 billion dollars to President George W. Bush's request for 81 billion dollars including 75 billion dollars for the military in Afghanistan and Iraq. The House Appropriations Committee officials said the money is needed to help US forces on the battlefield.

The plan will slim down the money Bush requested for foreign aid and civilian reconstruction in war-torn areas.

"We have reduced roughly half of the net foreign assistance funds in the request either because they were not well-defined or should be considered through the regular budget process," said the committee in a statement.

The plan chops funds for reconstruction in Afghanistan, by reducing 570 million dollars for Afghan reconstruction projects including the reconstruction of Kabul airport, a hydropower and gas-fired power plant and a new law school.

The package also reduces the money Bush wanted for counter-narcotic programs in Afghanistan.

The plan recommends slashing by 70 million dollars to 592 million dollars the requested funds for building an embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

The budget cuts debt relief for tsunami-hit countries in South and Southeast Asia, and by 200 million dollars to 580 million dollars for international peacekeeping missions, mostly for Sudan.

Source: Agencies