CARTER Act in Congress to Cut-Off Carter Center Funding

Congressman Joe Knollenberg, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, introduced today H.R. 5816, the CARTER Act, acronym for the Coordinated American Response To Extreme Radicals Act.

The CARTER Act would prohibit any taxpayer dollars from being directed to the former President Carter’s Carter Center.

Rep. Knollenberg, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, had written to Jimmy Carter on April 9 asking him to reconsider his plans:

As a former President of the United States, you undoubtedly understand that the United States must speak with one voice to our enemies. I hope and pray that we all as Americans stand in strong opposition to acts of terror and the terrorist groups that coordinate and fund them.

Hamas, as you well know, is a terrorist organization that is actively and continually seeking the destruction of a key ally of the United States. That is what makes these reports of your meeting with its leadership so troubling.

Rep. Knollenberg estimates that the Carter Center has received $19 million in federal funds since 2001.

The $19 million pales beside the tens of millions that have flowed to the Carter Center from MidEast sources. I’ve been told by researchers experienced in the funding of such organizations that they’ve been unable to penetrate the walls erected by the Carter Center to know its exact finances.

At this point of supping at Arab largesse, the $19 million may be peanuts to the peanut farmer, but there’s no justification in further slopping that hog.

Rep. Knollenberg can be emailed your note of support. Better, let your Congressman know you’d appreciate his or her support of H.R. 5816.

With the near universal condemnation of Carter’s visit with Hamas, let’s see whether Democrats will line up with Republicans to pass the CARTER Act.

MORE and worse here.

AND MORE here.