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25 March 2003

Bush Asking Congress for $75,000 Million for Iraq War and Aid

(Homeland security also covered in additional funding request) (440)
By Kathryn McConnell
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- President Bush March 25 asked Congress for $74,700
million more funding for the current fiscal year ending September 30
to pay for costs related to the war in Iraq and to anti-terrorism
efforts.
The request includes $53,000 million for military operational support
and approximately $5,000 million in bilateral assistance to countries
supporting the global war on terrorism, and $2,500 million for
humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Iraq, according to a
senior administration official.
The Iraq aid funds will be used to provide food, water, medicine and
clothing to the people of Iraq and to repair damaged infrastructure
and restore essential government services, according to a White House
fact sheet.
Countries to receive the additional aid in the form of loan guarantees
and grants include Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt,
Afghanistan and the Philippines, the official said.
"We are going to push for prompt and full congressional passage [of
the request]," said a Pentagon official speaking to reporters March
24.
The request seeks $1,600 million to support coalition forces assisting
the United States in Iraq. "We value the contributions of our
coalition partners, the Pentagon official said. "We continue to look
for more and stronger international support," the official added.
Included in the $1,600 million for coalition support is funding for
global counter-drug activities with a focus on Colombia, the official
said.
The request also includes $489.3 million for emergency fire fighting
and oil field repairs, the official said.
"The oil assets of Iraq are for the benefit of the Iraqi people. ...
[W]e will see them being used to rebuild and reconstruct the country,"
the administration official said.
The administration has not yet budgeted for the global war on
terrorism or military operations in Iraq for the 2004 fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2003, the Pentagon official said. "How could we
budget for something we didn't know would happen?" the official asked.
The administration is recommending that approximately 96 percent of
the requested supplemental 2003 funding be put into a "defense
emergency response fund" allowing maximum flexibility to transfer
funds among accounts based on actual war requirements, the official
said.
The request includes $4,000 million for homeland security, including
$2,000 million to be distributed to states and localities, $500
million for the Justice Department, and additional funds for the Coast
Guard, according to the administration official.
The military operations amount includes funds for "stabilization"
efforts that would last several months, the official said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)