HOUSE APPROVES JONES AMENDMENT TO TRANSFER INCENTIVE PAY FOR AFGHAN TROOPS TO U.S. TROOPS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week the U.S. House of Representatives adopted by voice vote Congressman Walter B. Jones’ (NC-3) amendment to H.R. 5856 – the Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2013.  The amendment would cut $412 million in U.S. taxpayer money included in the bill for ‘incentive pay’ for Afghanis serving in the Afghan National Police and Army, and instead use that money for incentives for American troops serving in Afghanistan.  Jones’ amendment comes after recent DOD reports showed that since 2005 the U.S. has sent over $50 billion in American taxpayers’ money to fund the Afghan Army and Police, including ‘incentive pay’.  The reports also show that of that $50 billion, over $13 billion has yet to even be spent.       

“I am very pleased that my colleagues saw the wisdom of this amendment,” Jones said.  “It is unthinkable for this Congress to continue to throw billions of U.S. taxpayers’ hard earned dollars towards salaries and ‘incentives’ for Afghan troops, especially when the money we’ve already sent over there has yet to be spent.  If that’s not stupid, I don’t know what is. If America continues to spend billions of dollars a month in Afghanistan, Congress needs to make sure that as much of that money as possible goes to our brave American service members, not to salaries, incentives and infrastructure for Afghans.”

The House passed H.R. 5856 – including the Jones Amendment – last night by a vote of 326 to 90.  The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.