Defense spending bill provides boost to Jordan
House Defense appropriators released a FY 2016 bill that seeks to help Jordan fight the Islamic State.
Congress is singling out Jordan for extra attention in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) even as it stops short of guaranteeing any additional funding.
House Defense appropriators released a 2016 fiscal year spending bill on May 19 that authorizes the Department of Defense to reserve War on Terrorism money for Jordan. The bill calls on the Pentagon to assist with "supporting and enhancing efforts of the armed forces of Jordan."
"The legislation provides $88.4 billion for the Global War on Terrorism," the committee said in a press statement. "This funding ... provides critical support to our key allies, such as Ukraine and Jordan, to resist aggression."
Separately, the appropriations bill also carves out $715 million to train and equip Iraqi forces over the next two years. The assistance includes "training, equipment, logistics support, supplies and services, stipends, infrastructure repair, renovation and sustainment to military and other security forces of or associated with the Government of Iraq, including Kurdish and tribal security forces or other local security forces, with a national security mission."
