The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would sharply reduce the $300 million in annual U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority unless it stops payments to terrorists’ families.
The committee backed the Taylor Force Act by voice vote, without opposition, after earlier amending the legislation to allow exceptions such as continued funding for wastewater projects and children’s vaccinations.
Named after a 29-year-old American military veteran fatally stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist while visiting Israel last year, the measure is intended to stop the Palestinian Authority from paying stipends, which can reach $3,500 per month, to families of terrorists killed or imprisoned by Israeli authorities. The terrorist who killed Force was killed by Israeli police, and his family receives such a monthly payment.
To become law, the bill must pass the full House and Senate, and be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Congressional aides said they expect a vote in the House before the end of 2017. Similar legislation has been passed by two Senate committees, but there was no immediate word on when the full Senate might take up the bill.