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House Approves New Funding for Troops, Homeland Defense

WASHINGTON – Wisconsin’s First District Congressman Paul Ryan last night voted in favor of a wartime spending plan that provides funding for our troops, for military activity in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and for homeland security needs.  This legislation also includes financial assistance for the struggling airline industry.  The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure (H.R. 1559), which appropriates about $78 billion altogether, by a vote of 414-12.

“As our military men and women fight courageously for a just cause, we have to make sure they get the support they need – in terms of pay, equipment, and everything that their mission requires,”  Ryan said. “This bill honors our commitment to them and demonstrates our determination to win this war, free the Iraqi people, and eliminate Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction.  And it promises new funding to help make our communities safer, as well as crucial help for our airlines,”

The bulk of the legislation helps pay for military operations to liberate Iraq and disarm Saddam Hussein’s regime.  This includes funding for military personnel, operations and maintenance, support for our coalition partners, and roughly $25.4 billion in flexible funding that the U.S. Defense Department can channel toward any military activity in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (including combat, stability operations, and replacement of munitions and equipment). 

Over $4 billion in additional funding for homeland security – including funding for the Department of Homeland Security, grant money for First Responders, border and port security, counter-terror activities, bioterrorism preparedness and public health activities – forms another key part of this legislation.

The bill also helps pave the way for Iraq’s post-war recovery, providing $2.48 billion for a new Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund.  This will deliver needed help to the Iraqi people through water and sanitation infrastructure, feeding and food distribution, refugee assistance and other humanitarian activities. Additionally, an amendment was included in the bill to ensure that none of the funds made available in the bill for reconstruction efforts in Iraq may be used to procure goods or services from entities organized under the laws of France, Germany, the Russian Federation, or Syria. 

Furthermore, this legislation includes financial assistance for U.S. airlines to help cover expenses they have incurred related to aviation security.  The bill specifically states that no airline receiving this aid may provide compensation to senior executives that exceeds the base pay and benefits they received in 2002.  

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