WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Tom Cole made the following statement today on the House floor in support of the rule for Emergency Supplemental Wartime Appropriations Act  (H.R. 1268). As a member of the Rules Committee, Congressman Cole has a voice in determining the rule, which sets the terms of debate on the Floor. A rule must be passed before the actual piece of legislation is debatable.

     "Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to be able to manage this rule.  This rule provides for an emergency supplemental funding package to sustain our troops in the ongoing War on Terror.  Most of these funds are directed toward operations in Iraq. Just last week, I returned from Iraq where I personally received numerous briefings regarding our readiness and operational capabilities.  I heard from our commanders, military personnel, and diplomats on the ground in Iraq.  My colleagues and I also had the opportunity to meet with senior and provincial Iraqi political leaders.

             Their collective message was clear, compelling, and optimistic.  First, things are getting better.  Second, our soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen believe in their mission.  And, third, continued congressional support, both moral and financial, is absolutely essential to bring our operations to a successful conclusion. The bulk of H.R.1268 moves us closer to that objective.

             This supplemental appropriations package is the fifth supplemental since September 11th that focuses on meeting the challenges imposed on us by the ongoing global war on terrorism.  Specifically, this supplemental provides for the replenishing of those accounts that the military has exhausted during sustained operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of the world.  Additionally, it provides important funding to assist in our efforts to address the disastrous results of the recent tsunami in south Asia and the Indian Ocean.  Finally there are important measures dedicated to improving the benefits due to our soldiers and meeting the diplomatic costs that our efforts have necessitated.

             Important obligations are met in this legislation.  Specifically, this bill provides $76.8 billion for total defense expenditures, a full $1.8 billion more than the President's request, funding other important military shortfalls identified by committees of Congress.  The vast majority of these dollars will directly support our servicemen in the area of operations.  These include purchases such as an additional 47,000 sets of body armor and 1700 new armored Humvees, and $408 million to harden the facilities that protect our servicemen from indirect fire.

             Mr. Speaker, the Appropriations Committee also addressed several other issues inside the supplemental that are essential to successfully prosecuting our global war on terror.  Among them are the inclusion of Army modularity reform and the construction of a new American Embassy in Baghdad.

             Specifically, with respect to Army modularity, the Committee took an important step to ensure that our troops who will deploy in the near future are able to leverage more combat power from current formations by adding a brigade at the corps level.  This ultimately supports the Army's attempt to transform the service to make it lighter, faster, more efficient and to reorient itself to its core competencies.  Put simply, Army modularity–the movement to new brigade formations–will put more soldiers in the fight and allow us to use our combat personnel much more efficiently.

             With respect to the Embassy in Baghdad, the committee took a close look at the State Department's request and reduced it by 10 percent.  Mr. Speaker, with respect to the embassy, I am aware that many members have concerns about the perceived cost.  However, let me be clear about the need for this extraordinary expenditure.

             Having visited the Baghdad Embassy twice before, it is clear to me that the facility is required.  This is not an optional item.  The United States should not occupy one of Saddam Hussein's palaces indefinitely, for to do so only reinforces the impression in parts of the Arab world that the United States is an occupying power.  More importantly, Iraq is a very dangerous diplomatic post.  Indeed, it is so dangerous that essentially every State department employee based in Baghdad is a volunteer.  Like our soldiers, these brave career civil servants need and deserve the best security we can provide them while they perform their vital functions. A new, secure embassy is indispensable to achieve this objective.