Military

DATE=11-29-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS / DEFENSE BILL (L-O) CQ

NUMBER=2-283647

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

// RE-RUNNING TO CORRECT: IN GRAF SIX OF THE TEXT, PLEASE MAKE THE FIGURES ( 21 and 19) BILLIONS, NOT MILLIONS ///

INTRO: The Republican-led House of Representatives has passed a 20 billion dollar emergency package to respond to the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States. The action came in a vote approving an annual defense spending bill. The measure now goes to the Senate. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Washington.

TEXT: The House approved the emergency package and the 318 billion dollar defense spending bill by a 406 to 20 vote.

The 20 billion dollar emergency aid was passed after Republicans rejected Democrats' efforts to add billions more to the package.

Democrats wanted an extra 10 billion to help New York recover from the destruction of the World Trade Center, seven-point-two billion dollars to increase homeland security and six-point-five billion dollars for the military.

But the Republican majority backed a procedural rule to block votes on Democratic amendments to increase spending.

The 20 billion dollar package is the last installment of an overall 40 billion dollars in emergency aid authorized by Congress just days after the September 11th attacks.

Some 21 billion dollars is to go to the military effort, with the remaining 19 billion to help New York rebuild and to fight terrorism.

Democrats accused President Bush of reneging on a pledge to immediately send New York 20 billion dollars to recover from the attacks.

Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler of New York represents the district where the World Trade Center once stood.

/// NADLER ACTUALITY ///

Unfortunately, I cannot in good conscience vote for this bill today because of the supplemental funding provision included in the bill that actually cuts funding that was intended to help New York recover from the terrorist attacks on September 11th. The bill before the House today breaks the solemn pledge made to the people of the state who suffered the brunt of the attack on our nation.

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But Republicans -- including the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Bill Young -- say New York will get more money when further needs are assessed.

/// YOUNG ACTUALITY ///

What I am suggesting is that any amendment that goes above the 20 billion dollars, we cannot support today, but we will move immediately for a supplemental with the President's support and the speaker's support when the time comes and we do identify a need that must be taken care of now.

/// END ACT ///

Democrats argued New York needs more money now to encourage businesses to reopen and help rebuild the stricken financial center.

But President Bush has threatened to veto any spending over the 40 billion already authorized.

The overall defense spending bill has 20 billion dollars more than last year's total and matches Mr. Bush's request. It cuts 441 million dollars from the President's eight-point-three billion dollar plan for a national missile defense. (signed)

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