Congress: 102 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: bundled package
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Official record on Congress.gov — full text, actions, and cosponsor history for HR 6150.
Sponsor: Orton, Bill (D-UT)
Foreign Aid Reduction and Reform Act of 1992 - Declares the policy of the Congress that: (1) humanitarian aid to foreign nations should continue to be provided in the form of grants; (2) foreign aid to military and economic development purposes should be converted to loans, rather than grants; and (3) the conversion should be implemented over a reasonable period of time, in recognition of prior commitments and managerial efficiency. Title I: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs - Rescinds FY 1993 funds made available to the President for the Agency for International Development for: (1) population, development assistance; (2) operating expenses; (3) the housing guaranty program account; (4) the economic support fund; (5) the international fund for Ireland; (6) Philippines assistance; (7) assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States; and (8) assistance for Russia and emerging Eurasian democracies. Rescinds funds made available to the African Development Foundation and the Inter-American Foundation. Provides supplemental FY 1993 funds to the: (1) Overseas Private Investment Corporation Program account; (2) the Peace Corps; and (3) the Department of State for international narcotics control and anti-terrorism assistance. Rescinds funds made available to the President for international military education and training and the foreign military financing program. Provides supplemental FY 1993 funds to the President for direct loans under the foreign military financing program, peacekeeping operations, the subsidy appropriation, and administrative expenses. Title II: Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Rescinds FY 1993 funds made available to the Department of State for: (1) the administration of foreign affairs; (2) the Office of Inspector General; (3) representation allowances; (4) protection of foreign missions and officials; (5) acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad; (6) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (7) the repatriation loans program account; (8) payment to the American Institute in Taiwan; and (9) international organizations and conferences. Rescinds FY 1993 funds made available to: (1) certain international commissions; (2) payment to the Asia Foundation; (3) the Board for International Broadcasting; (4) the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (5) the International Trade Commission; (6) the Japan-United States Friendship Commission; and (7) the United States Information Agency.
This bill reshapes US foreign aid by converting grants to loans for military and economic development purposes. It cuts $600 million in Economic Support Fund grants to Israel while providing $1.8 billion in direct loans instead, with requirements that military financing loans disburse within 30 days and include at least $475 million for defense procurement in Israel. The bill also rescinds funding across multiple foreign aid accounts while redirecting money to peace corps, anti-terrorism assistance, and military financing loans.
The bill restructures rather than reduces total US support to Israel, shifting from grants to loans while maintaining substantial military financing. This matters because it tests whether loan conversion versus grant aid affects the scale and conditionality of US military support to Israel—a question central to debates over unconditional versus conditional assistance.