With the Senate Foreign Relations Committee taking up U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s, R-SC, “Taylor Force Act” cutting off American funding to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to financially support terrorists and their families, a congressman from Florida is urging Congress pass it.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., threw his support behind the House version of the bill, which is being sponsored by U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Col., back in May. On Wednesday, Buchanan doubled down on his support of the bill which was named after an American Air Force veteran killed by a Palestinian terrorist. The Palestinian Authority has financially helping the family of Force’s killer.
“American tax dollars should never be used to reward terrorism,” Buchanan said. “The Palestinian Authority must not receive another dime until they end this horrific practice.”
Reports show that up to as much of 8 percent of the Palestinian Authority’s budget goes to help the families of terrorists.
Buchanan is one of ten co-sponsors of the bill in the House. Other co-sponsors from Florida include U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who chairs the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and fellow Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Carlos Curbelo, Ron DeSantis, Mario Diaz-Balart, Matt Gaetz, Francis Rooney, Dennis Ross and Dan Webster.
Graham testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of his proposal on Wednesday morning.
“This bill shines a light on a very real problem. Taylor was an American hero who was brutally murdered at the hands of terrorists. Yet instead of condemning this horrific attack – and so many others like it – the Palestinian Authority rewards terrorists,” Graham said.
“These rewards for terrorist attacks are inconsistent with American values,” he added. “They are inconsistent with decency. And they are certainly inconsistent with peace. Simply put, you can’t be a partner in peace when you are paying people to commit acts of terror.
“It is long past time to let the Palestinian Authority know that these practices are wholly unacceptable,” Graham said in conclusion. “I want to thank Chairman Corker for bringing the Taylor Force Act up for consideration. I urge my colleagues to swiftly approve this bill so we can get it passed and signed into law.”
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is co-sponsoring Graham's bill.
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