Two Florida Republicans -- U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack -- seek to make major cuts and changes to American international policy with the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012, which they pushed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Ros-Lehtinen, the chairwoman of the committee, introduced the bill which authorizes almost $6.5 billion less than what President Barack Obama originally proposed.

“This bill authorizes responsible spending levels based on those contained in the bipartisan, carefully negotiated fiscal year 2011 continuing resolution that was signed into law earlier this year,” Ros-Lehtinen said on Wednesday. “I hear the demands of the American people to stop the spending spree, and that is why I am unwilling to agree to the huge overall spending increase that the president wanted in this bill. My legislation protects and advances our national security interests and priorities while rejecting the notion that it takes more government and more spending to do so. The bill implements numerous common-sense reforms to save money and increase the effectiveness of our programs.”

The proposal, backed by Ros-Lehtinen and congressional Republicans, cuts security assistance to Middle Eastern governments until they can prove they are free from the influence of organizations with ties to radical groups or terrorist organizations.

“We must require specific certifications from the administration prior to the distribution of any further security assistance to Pakistan, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and Yemen to ensure that such assistance is halted if it jeopardizes U.S. security interests or is benefiting or being manipulated by extremist groups,” Ros-Lehtinen said, who added that her proposal would help continue American support for Israel. “The U.S.-Israel alliance is vital to the safety and security of both nations, and this bill continues Congress’s bipartisan commitment of fully funding security assistance for Israel.”

Mack, chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, looked to amend the bill to cut funding to five Latin American nations: Argentina, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia. Also to cut American funding to the Organization of American States (OAS), pull the plug on the Global Climate Change Initiative Activities and list Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism.

"Let's engage our allies and friends, but let's not continue to support organizations and countries that perpetuate destruction of freedom and democracy,” Mack said. “With our financial house in disarray in our homeland, the least the Congress and the president can do is streamline our foreign dollars to our allies and engage in efforts to improve our economy at home -- such as the immediate passage of the pending free-trade agreements with Colombia and Panama. Additionally, with American businesses saddled with environmental protections already, other countries should do their part to improve the global climate, not just the U.S.”

Democrats on the committee, led by U.S. Rep. Howard Berman of California, poked holes at the bill, arguing that the State Department needed more funds.