Fantastic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House panel on Wednesday pushed ahead on a bill to block U.S. assistance to Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen and the Palestinian Authority unless the Obama administration reassures Congress that they are cooperating in the war on terrorism.

The Republican-drafted measure was a direct challenge to President Barack Obama as members of the GOP majority sought to limit his foreign policy authority, slash U.S. contributions to international organizations and reverse policies on abortion. Overall, the bill would cut $6.4 billion from Obama’s request of $51 billion for the State Department and foreign operations in the next budget.

Frustrated with Pakistan’s effort in the terror war, the bill would bar civilian and security aid to Islamabad unless the secretary of state can certify to Congress that it is pursuing terrorists and helping the U.S. investigate how Osama bin Laden managed to live unscathed deep inside Pakistan.

The panel also voted 23-17 to cut the U.S. contribution to the United Nations by 25 percent.

The U.S. is the largest single contributor to the U.N., responsible for 22 percent of the U.N.’s regular budget and 27 percent of the money for peacekeeping operations. The Obama administration is seeking $3.54 billion for the United Nations and other international agencies, and peacekeeping efforts in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Under the sweeping bill, aid to the Palestinian Authority would be contingent on the secretary certifying that no member of Hamas or any other terrorist organization was serving in a policy position. The two rival Palestinian leaderships — the secular Fatah and the Islamist Hamas — reconciled and are trying to form a new government. Israel and the U.S. both consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

The Obama administration has requested some $550 million in aid for the Palestinian Authority.

Assistance for Egypt would be based on whether its new government “is not directly or indirectly controlled by a foreign terrorist organization.” The bill would also direct the administration to reassure Congress that Egypt is searching out and destroying any smuggling network and tunnels between the country and the Gaza strip.

Israeli and American officials fear that Hamas is moving weapons and militants into the Palestinian territory through tunnels along the Gaza border.

Aid to Lebanon would be contingent on the secretary certifying to Congress that no member of Hezbollah is in a policy position. In fact, members of the group are part of the government.

Aid to Yemen would be based on the administration reassuring Congress that no terrorist organization is part of the government.