***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! If you’ve ever used the phrase “Fake News” — now YOU can actually DO something about it! You can also support us on PayPal at [email protected] or Venmo at Iowa-Standard-2018 or through the mail at:
PO Box 112
Sioux Center, IA 51250
On Wednesday, U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) introduced the No Tax Dollars for the Taliban Act to stop countries that receive U.S. foreign aid from sending money to the Taliban.
“There should be strict measures in place to stop any country that receives foreign aid from the United States from turning around and sending money to terrorists,” said Rep. Burchett. “We know the Taliban has already intercepted a lot of weapons and resources it shouldn’t have, and it’s our duty to cut them off wherever we can.”
The No Tax Dollars for the Taliban Act would:
- Require the Secretary of State to report on countries that have provided the Taliban with assistance, the amount of assistance, and how the Taliban has used that assistance.
- Require the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to discourage foreign countries from providing aid to the Taliban and to determine whether countries that do should still receive U.S. assistance.
- Require a report on Direct Cash Assistance Programs in Afghanistan that includes identification of partners and recipients of direct cash assistance, descriptions of how these payments occur, and how the State Department prevents the Taliban from accessing cash assistance.
- Require a report on the Afghan Fund which includes a list of Taliban members working at Da Afghanistan Bank (Afghanistan’s central bank), a description of the influence the Taliban has over the bank and the Afghan Fund’s Board of Trustees, and what controls are in place to ensure disbursements are not diverted to the Taliban from the Afghan Fund.
The full text can be found here.
