PHILIPPINES TO RECEIVE $500 MILLION IN SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE DUE TO ISSA AMENDMENT

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East County News Service
 
July 31, 2024 (Washington D.C.) -- In April, Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-48) authored an amendment to the House national security supplemental appropriations package of bills recommending $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to the Philippines. It was adopted by the House in a bipartisan and unanimous voice vote.

 
Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), a senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a founder of the U.S.-Philippine Friendship Caucus, released the following statement today:  “The announcement of critically needed additional security assistance for the Philippines underscores and reinforces the enduring partnership between our two nations and our mutual commitment to the defense of freedom in the Indo-Pacific. Today, we say again: America and the Philippines stand shoulder to shoulder, and alongside all people of goodwill, against the territorial aggression of the Chinese Communist Party.”
 
The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in the Indo-Pacific.  Over the past year, the People’s Republic of China has significantly escalated against the Philippines in the South China Sea, including ramming its supply ships. In response, the Philippines has taken significant steps to strengthen its partnerships with the United States and Japan as evidenced by a trilateral meeting with President Joe Biden and Phillipines President Marcos, along with the Prime Minister.
 
Watch Rep. Issa’s remarks floor remarks on the amendment here. A press release on the amendment is here. For unrelated East County Magazine coverage of his bills to expand 6 acre Jamul Indian Village click here.
 
About the author: Darrel Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. 

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Comments

The House approved Issa's desired gift, but

that isn't enough. Issa’s amendment was not included in the bill that the House sent to the Senate, which approved it, along with the bills relating to Ukraine and Israel, and transmitted to President Biden, who signed it into law.

Issa's 500 million here and there

is what our Congress does. Wastes money. In this case the money goes to an ineffective little country (Philippines) that has been in existence for less than a hundred years, going up against China, a country around for thousands of years, over common waters where China enjoys the thousands of ships that come and go as usual. But the US is using the underdeveloped Philippines against its highly developed US enemy China. Go for it Darrel, it's not your money.