Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/25/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ BUDGET REACT (S)

NUMBER=2-301291

BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Congressional appropriators say they intend to move quickly to get President Bush's war budget request through the House of Representatives and the Senate. V-O-A's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill:

TEXT: The Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Bill Young, says he intends to meet the president's request to have a bill on his desk no later than the second week of April.

Another member of that committee, Congressman Jim Kolbe, spoke with reporters:

/// KOLBE ACT ///

We expect to have this bill, we hope, through the House by next week. The president has said he would like it done, on his desk by the 11th of April so that gives us another two-and-a-half weeks to get it there.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Kolbe says he expects lawmakers to ask serious questions about the administration's long-term plans for reconstruction in Iraq.

The House Appropriations Committee has already scheduled hearings this week on the president's nearly 75-billion dollar Iraq war request. (signed)

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