Reagan signs $25B aid bill

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 11

Reagan signs $25B aid bill

NZPA-AP Washington The President of the United States, Mr Ronald Reagan, signed a $U525.4 billion foreign aid bill yesterday. He was “particularly pleased” that it provided for the resumption of United States aid to the rebels in Nicaragua. He also criticised the measure — the first such legislation passed by Congress in four years — as offering “substantial reduc-

tions” in military aid, a development that he called “disappointing.” The bill authorises SUSI 2.7 billion ($24.13 billion) in foreign aid for each of the next two years. It authorises foreign aid spending in scores of developing nations around the world but awards the largest amounts to Israel and Egypt. Not since 1981 were both Houses of Congress able to

agree on foreign aid spending authority. Attempts at passage always broke up over policy disputes, forcing the Reagan Administration to use stop-gap financing measures for foreign aid. The bill Mr Reagan signed into law includes spending authority of SUS 3 billion ($5.7 billion) for Israel for each of the two years, plus a one-time infusion of SUSI.S ($2.85) billion in emergency economic aid. Egypt will get SUS2.I billion

($3.99 billion) for each year plus SUSSOO million ($950 million) in emergency economic aid. As approved by Congress late last month, the measure froze foreign aid spending at the levels approved for the 1985 financial year, which will end on September 30. The Administration had asked for SUSI 3.2 billion ($25.08 billion) for each of the two years.