Military

16 March 2005

U.S. House Passes Supplemental Funding for Iraq, Afghanistan

Tsunami relief funds included in the legislation

Washington -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation March 16 that would provide $81.4 billion in emergency 2005 supplemental appropriations to fund continuing military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The measure, which must also be approved by the U.S. Senate, also contains funding for foreign assistance, including humanitarian relief for victims of the December 26 earthquake and tsunami in South and Southeast Asia.

The House voted 388-43 in favor of the spending bill. The Senate is expected to take up its version of the supplemental bill in April following a two-week congressional recess.

"The reason for this supplemental is to provide -- as quickly as possible -- money flows in support of our troops," House Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis said March 16 to urge passage of the measure. Supplemental requests are to cover unexpected expenses in the present fiscal year; money provided in the regular 2006 budget will not be available until the fiscal year begins October 1.
The bill is the fifth emergency-spending plan President Bush has sent to Congress for military operations since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It provides $76.8 billion for defense-related expenses, and is approximately $500 million less than the president's original request.

The bulk of the defense spending would go to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, which are the two military services bearing the brunt of the combat operations. The funds would pay for body armor, medical supplies, night-vision devices, communications equipment, weapons, ammunition and armor kits for combat vehicles.

Notably, the House rejected a $592 million request to build a new U.S. embassy in Iraq, which had been actively supported by Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Lawmakers argued that the embassy funding was not an emergency and should, therefore be put in the regular budget, though supporters in the House argued that it was essential to begin building the complex immediately to provide security for the U.S. diplomatic personnel now working in Baghdad.

President Bush, however, praised the swift action taken by the House on the emergency supplemental spending bill. Bush sought the additional funding February 14, and the House began debate on the bill March 15.

"I applaud the House of Representatives for its strong bipartisan support for our troops and for our strategy to win the war on terror. The people of Iraq and Afghanistan are building new democracies and defying the terrorists, and America is standing with them. Both countries are assuming greater responsibility for their own security, which will help our troops return home as quickly as possible with the honor they have earned," Bush said in a prepared statement issued by the White House.

While the bill trims funds intended for foreign assistance and the U.S. embassy in Iraq, it added $1.8 billion more than the president sought for defense spending.

The bill left intact $656 million in tsunami direct disaster relief funds. It also includes $222 million to replenish U.S. military accounts used for early tsunami relief aid.

Other spending in the bill includes:

-- $100 million for disaster- and refugee assistance in Africa, in addition to $150 million in food aid for Sudan;

-- $590 million to train police and to battle narcotics production in Afghanistan;

-- $580 million for international peacekeeping missions, most of which is for Sudan; and

-- $200 million in economic assistance for the Palestinian Authority.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)