WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A Republican member of Congress is challenging Obama administration plans to provide $450 million in emergency aid to Egypt.
The U.S. Agency for International Development notified Congress Friday it would provide the aid to help Egypt's transition to democracy, The New York Times reported.
The aid is part of a $1 billion package promised by President Barack Obama in May 2011 that was initially to be used to help Egypt with its debts to the United States.
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, who chairs the House appropriations subcommittee that oversees foreign aid, released a statement saying she was opposed to the aid package because the current president of Egypt, Muhammad Morsi, is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The U.S. relationship with Egypt "has never been under more scrutiny," she said.
"I am not convinced of the urgent need for this assistance and I cannot support it at this time," she said in a statement.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday the world must do more to support countries attempting to move toward democracy.
"The recent riots and protests throughout the region have brought the challenge of transition into sharp relief," Clinton said at a meeting of the Group of Eight nations in New York. "Extremists are clearly determined to hijack these wars and revolutions to further their agendas and ideology, so our partnership must empower those who would see their nations emerge as true democracies."
