Purpose:
To establish a legal requirement for the direct consent of American citizens in any decision to allocate federal funds as aid to foreign countries.
Section 1. Short Title
This Act may be cited as the “Foreign Aid Citizen Approval Act.”
Section 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
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The allocation of federal funds for foreign aid is a matter of public interest and national importance.
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The current system allows members of Congress to vote on foreign aid packages without direct input from the American people.
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American citizens, as taxpayers, have the right to be involved in decisions concerning how their tax dollars are used, particularly in regard to aid sent overseas.
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A formal process is needed to ensure that the will of the American people is represented in all decisions regarding foreign aid.
Section 3. Requirement of Citizen Approval for Foreign Aid
(a) Citizen Referendum Requirement:
Before any foreign aid package, whether for humanitarian, economic, or military assistance, is allocated to a foreign country, the proposed aid must be presented to the American citizenry for a vote. This applies to any proposed aid to countries or organizations outside of the United States.
(b) Scope of Referendum:
All foreign aid decisions, regardless of size or type of aid, must be subject to a public vote. This includes, but is not limited to:
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Humanitarian assistance in response to natural disasters or crises.
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Economic aid to bolster foreign economies.
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Military assistance in the form of funding, equipment, or resources.
(c) Existing Aid Packages:
Any ongoing foreign aid programs that have already been approved by Congress but have not yet been fully disbursed shall be subject to citizen approval under this Act. All existing aid packages must undergo a public referendum within one year of the enactment of this legislation.
Section 4. Implementation of the Citizen Referendum
(a) Process of Citizen Vote:
A national referendum will be held to decide whether any proposed foreign aid package will be approved. The process for this vote shall follow the existing framework used for national elections, with ballots being made available through both in-person and mail-in voting.
(b) Threshold for Approval:
A simple majority vote by the American public will be required for any foreign aid package to be approved.
(c) Funding for the Referendum:
The costs of conducting referendums on foreign aid shall be borne by the federal government and incorporated into the annual budgeting process for elections and public votes.
Section 5. Exemptions and Special Cases
(a) Domestic Assistance Exemption:
This Act does not apply to federal funding allocated for the direct benefit of American citizens currently residing within the 50 states or U.S. territories. Any aid or assistance programs that support American citizens, including but not limited to disaster relief, emergency aid, and economic assistance, are exempt from the requirements of this Act.
(b) Foreign Aid with American Beneficiaries:
If any foreign aid package is designed to directly support American citizens living abroad, it must still be subject to a public referendum unless those citizens are physically residing within the 50 states or U.S. territories at the time of the aid’s distribution.
This exemption ensures that aid intended for American citizens living domestically within the United States or its territories is not delayed or subject to the referendum process, while maintaining the requirement for public approval for all other foreign aid allocations.
Section 6. Effective Date
This Act shall take effect immediately upon passage and will apply to all foreign aid proposals and existing programs as outlined above.