The House this afternoon approved a foreign aid authorization bill containing $2.26 billion in military and economic supporting assistance for Israel for fiscal year 1976. The vote was 215-185, a margin of only 30 votes, which indicated that a Presidential veto would withstand an over-riding attempt.
The measure was sent to the Senate for action there, possibly later today. It was adopted in face of stiff opposition from Republicans and conservative Democrats who supported President Ford’s demand for deletion of provisions that he said inhibited his authority in conducting the nation’s foreign policy. In addition to Israel, beneficiaries of the measure include Egypt, which would receive $700 million in economic assistance, Syria, Jordan and some 50 other countries.
Opposition to the authorization bill was crystalized in a motion by Rep. Edward Derwinski (R. 111) who contended that its provisions would “make it almost impossible for the President and the Secretary of State to carry out U.S. foreign policy.” Among the provisions he and other Republicans opposed were those-giving Congress power to veto sales of military equipment by either the U.S. government or American companies to foreign entities in excess of $25 million; and a ban on aid to any country that discriminates against American citizens on grounds of race, color, creed, sex or national origin.
They also objected to provisions for action against countries that harbor terrorists and to a $9 billion ceiling on the amount of military equipment the U.S. can sell in any given year. Derwinski said the latter provision was “an absolute over-kill in the area of foreign affairs” because this year the Soviet Union is selling more than $12 billion in military equipment to other countries.
Derwinski’s motion, which would have sent the measure back to the Senate-House conference committee, effectively ending its chances of passage before the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, was defeated 214-188. Rep. Thomas Morgan (D.Pa.), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, said recommittal of the bill would in no way change the Senate-House conference report. He said that if Ford vetoes the authorization measure “he must face the consequences.”
POSSIBLE CHAOS NOTED
Congressmen favoring the bill pointed out that unless it is passed, the foreign aid program would be thrown into complete chaos with no legislation to assist countries dependent on U.S. aid. One of the possible consequences mentioned was the fall of the Rabin government in Israel.
The vote today on the authorization bill is only one step in the legislative process for foreign aid. The Senate must approve the measure, which it probably will. Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D. Minn. I has warned that no foreign aid legislation will be adopted this fiscal year if the authorization measure is not approved.
In addition, both houses must approve an appropriations hill to fund the aid program. The House is expected to vote on this tomorrow. It is uncertain, however, whether the House will approve the Senate formula to provide transitional quarter funding for Israel, Egypt and other countries in the amount of 25 percent of their appropriations for fiscal 1976.
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