FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- May 5, 2005 -

STEARNS JOINS HOUSE IN FUNDING GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING BILL PROVIDES ENHANCED BENEFITS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES, PROTECTION FOR THE USS KENNEDY, AND MORE SECURE BORDERS

WASHINGTON, MAY 5, 2005 - "The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act provides essential funding for the global War on Terrorism, ensuring that our military personnel receive the resources they need in their difficult missions," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala).  "This measure also provides enhanced benefits for our service men and women, and for their families.  I am also pleased that it includes language protecting the USS Kennedy from early retirement.  Finally, it reforms our immigration laws and provides more resources to protect our borders."

Today, the House approved the House and Senate agreement on H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.  It provides $75.9 billion for defense related expenditures supporting military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.  "This measure includes the important provisions from the House-passed bill (REAL ID Act) to reform our immigration laws," explained Stearns. "These provisions include increasing the security standards for issuing state driver's licenses and identification documents, increasing the burden of proof for asylum, making it easier to deny entry to and deport suspected terrorists, and expediting the construction of the San Diego border fence.  The supplemental includes funding for nearly 700 additional Border Patrol agents, enforcement agents, and detention officers."

Noted Stearns, "Our brave military personnel sacrifice for us each day, and that includes injuries and death.  This proposal increases the maximum Servicemember Group Life Insurance benefit from $250,000 to $400,000 and the onetime death gratuity for combat fatalities from $12,000 to $100,000, and it creates a new insurance benefit of up to $100,000 for soldiers who have suffered traumatic injuries."

Furthermore, H.R. 1268 would delay the decommissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Kennedy until six months after the Quadrennial Defense Review.  Stearns joined in successfully requesting that the House and Senate negotiators retain this language protecting the USS Kennedy from early retirement.  "The War on Terrorism is a global conflict, and a full complement of 12 aircraft carriers is essential to rooting out the terrorists overseas," added Stearns.  "Last year, the USS Kennedy launched up to 60 mission a day in support of our troops in Iraq, and we must retain this capability."


For Further Information Please Contact Paul Flusche at 202-225-5744 or Email.