Petty Squabbles Hold Up Millions Of Dollars In Aid

By Scott Neuberger
The Blue Print
on Foreign Affairs:

The House Foreign Affairs struggles to agree on sub committee to prioritize countries in need of aid. Political lines don’t divide the disagreement, but instead individual beliefs on petty details are causing internal debates.

As of now the committee agrees on a “dollar for dollar” bill that will allow private businesses and individuals to donate money to a government-run fund. The US government will then match the donation up 300 million dollars and distribute it to countries they believe appropriate. 
The contradiction appears at this point. The bill required a sub committee that would decide the specific places the donated money would go. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) is in agreement with the idea of creating a priority list. For example, Indonesia would be at the top of the list followed by Haiti.

A Republican representative from the Foreign Affairs committee claims, “How can priority be given? Is it based on the stability of their government or the medical attention? In my opinion, the priority list shouldn’t be put in place because it lacks a real structure to measure priority.”

The Red Cross stepped in to display its ideas for aid on the volcano eruption in Indonesia. They recommend at least 500 million dollars be sent to aid the country with medical support, food, and naval support.

Although some see Indonesia as a major priority, others disagree that Haiti is more essential to the US government. It is clear that this bill lacks movement and clarity. Committee members agree that the decisions made on this issue will critically affect US involvement in Indonesia and the pirated waters of Somalia.