House Due to Vote on Foreign Aid Measure Which Includes Some $350 Million for Israel

The House of Representatives will vote July 26 on the foreign aid measure authorizing expenditures of $2,833,868,000, including a credit of $300 million for Israel for the purchase of U.S. military equipment and a grant to Israel of $50 million in economic security assistance In addition, the measure provides Israel with a share of the $20 million authorized for American schools and hospitals abroad.

The bill was adopted Thursday by the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 29-8. Some opposition was raised in the committee to the grant of $50 million on the ground that the Nixon Administration had asked for half that amount in its proposals to the Congress.

While the authorization legislation in the House combines all the assistance programs, the Senate seems headed for two separate authorization bills. It has already voted $770 million for military aid which includes $300 million in credits for Israel plus the grant of $50 million in economic assistance.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved an economic measure for $1.2 billion and will report it shortly to the Senate as a whole The Senate committee also has approved institutional grants to Israel as the House committee has done. The Senate is not expected to vote on the economic authorization until Sept. Congress is to go into recess Aug. 4 and resume its session on Sept. 6 after the Labor Day holiday.

U.S. assistance to countries accepting Soviet refugees is authorized at $38 million in the State Department authorization measure. Most of this is expected to be used for helping Soviet Jewish refugees in Israel. The authorization measures are the first hurdle in the aid legislation. Both Congressional branches must adopt appropriation bills that provide funds for the authorizations. Generally the appropriations voted are less than the authorization which set forth policy and ceilings for expenditures.