Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced a bill Wednesday that would redirect federal money marked for Pakistan to the federal Highway Trust Fund to help repair America's infrastructure.
Called "End Aid to Pakistan," the legislation is aimed to prevent the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from shipping U.S. taxpayer money to Pakistan.
"We fail our responsibilities to protect our country and properly steward taxpayers' hard-earned money when we support countries that chant 'Death to America' and burn our flag," Paul said in a statement. "Let's bring that money home and use it to help rebuild our infrastructure instead of giving it to a nation that persecutes Christians and imprisons people such as the doctor that helped us get Osama Bin Laden."
Reps. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., and Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, will introduce a similar bill in the House.
Paul's bill asks the State Department to "transfer $1,280,000,000 to the Highway Trust Fund" once it receives its balance for 2018 appropriations. It asks the USAID to transfer $852,000,000 to the fund.
On New Year's Day, President Donald Trump tweeted his intention to withhold U.S. aid to Pakistan because the south Asian nation has responded with "lies and deceit."