One of the best ways to stem the tide of anti-Americanism in Iraq and Afghanistan, argued Congresswoman Jackson-Lee (D-TX), was to demonstrate the United States's commitment to protecting human rights. During debate on the $87 billion supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan, Jackson-Lee proposed an amendment which would have appropriated $300 million for women's programs in Afghanistan, including $10 million for the Afghan Human Rights Commission and $24 billion for the Ministry of Women's Affairs. Progressives supported Jackson-Lee's proposal based on their view that the U.S. had a duty to protect the human rights of disadvantaged groups-in this case women and girls in the male-dominated Afghan society-from abuse and exploitation. Conservatives voted against the measure and argued that the underlying supplemental spending bill already contained $400 million for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. On a vote of 156-271, the Jackson-Lee amendment was defeated and the additional assistance to Afghan women and girls was not included in the underlying supplemental spending bill.