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June 9th, 2006 - - President’s Request: $98.7 billion (Includes $1.9 billion for border security and $2.2 billion for levees)
Senate Bill: $108.9 billion
House Bill: $91.9 billion
Conference Report: $94.5 billion
Fighting the Global War on Terrorism and Supporting the Troops
The supplemental provides $65.8 billion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, roughly the same as the total budget request.
- Supporting our Troops-Armored Humvees and Tracked Vehicles—The supplemental makes modifications to the request in order to get the safest, most effective armored vehicles to the troops in the field, including the National Guard, in the most timely manner possible. The bill adds and earmarks $725 million over the request to ensure that Army tracked combat vehicles such as Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles are upgraded and available to National Guard units deploying to combat regions and troops currently in the field. In addition, the committee earmarked an additional $480 million over the request for newer, safer up-armored Humvees for a total of $890 million. These vehicles provide a higher level of troop protection than their retrofitted counterparts and are more rapidly and readily available to assist troops in the field.
- Preventing Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) Attacks—The bill fully funds the nearly $2 billion request to procure and develop countermeasures to prevent IED attacks on our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Life Insurance and Combat Death Gratuity--The Supplemental fully funds the recently enhanced $400,000 life insurance benefits for service members and $100,000 death gratuity for combat related fatalities. These additional benefits are a small but appropriate response for soldiers who have given their life in service to their country.
- Commander Emergency Response Fund—The bill includes $423 million as requested to allow military commanders in the field to conduct small scale, urgent reconstruction projects. This project originated from a Congressional earmark initiated by Members who had traveled to Iraq and heard the needs on the ground from the field commanders.
- Iraq and Afghanistan Security Forces Training—The bill provides $4.85 billion to train and equip security forces of Afghanistan and Iraq, $1 billion below the request.
Aiding our Allies in the Global War on Terror
Total Foreign Assistance
The bill provides $4 billion to assist our international allies in the global war on terror, promote democracy worldwide and provide humanitarian relief to stricken areas. In general, funds were not provided for activities that were not emergency in nature or not executable in fiscal year 2006.
- Iraq Stabilization Projects—The bill provides $1.6 billion for various stabilization and local governance projects in Iraq.
- Diplomatic Security and Operations—The diplomatic mission in Iraq is funded at $1.1 billion, $716 million of which is for enhanced security measures.
- Emergency Food Assistance--$350 million is provided as requested to provide emergency international food assistance through the P.L. 480 program.
- Promotion of Democracy in Iran—The conference report provided $66 million for the promotion of democracy in Iran.
Disaster Assistance
President’s Request: $19.8 billion
Conference Report: $19.8 billion
FEMA Disaster Relief
The bill provides $6 billion, $1.2 billion below the revised request, for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. These funds are used for a variety of disaster recovery and relief activities including debris removal, reimbursing state and localities for infrastructure repairs, and assisting individuals and families impacted by disasters. $400 million is provided within these funds for more comprehensive housing structures.
Community and Economic Development
To address long-term recovery and restoration for hurricane devastated areas, $5.2 billion is provided through the Community Development Block Grant, the same as the Senate passed bill and $1 billion more than the House bill and the request. Language was included that no one state would receive more than $4.2 billion in assistance.
Levee Repair and Flood Control Projects
The bill provides approximately the revised requested amount of $3.7 billion for various flood control projects and levee repairs by the Army Corps of Engineers. The bill provides $495 million for levee construction in New Orleans and $3.1 billion for various hurricane-related activities in the Gulf region. Funds are distributed essentially as requested by the Corp of Engineers. In addition $100 million is provided for various wetland and barrier island restoration mainly in the Gulf region.
Agriculture Emergency Assistance
The bill provides $500 million in current disasters assistance for farmers, ranchers and producers affected by recent gulf hurricanes, $3.4 billion below the Senate passed bill.
Veteran’s Medical Facility
The bill includes $550 million to rebuild a Veterans’ medical facility in New Orleans, $50 million below the request subject to authorization.
Excluded items
The bill excluded the following items:
- $700 million for a railroad relocation project in Mississippi.
- Language compelling the Department of Defense to cover hurricane damage to shipyard facilities otherwise covered by private insurance.
- Language to transfer the Job Corp program to the Office of the Secretary of Labor
Border Security
The bill includes $1.9 billion to bolster border security as the President requested. This includes $708 million to pay for the deployment National Guard troops along the Southwest border. In addition, $1.2 billion is provided for the Department of Homeland Security to enhance border security which includes the hiring of 1000 new border agents, 4000 additional detention beds and various tactical and logistical support activities for the Secure Border Initiative. In addition, $20 million was provided to increase judges and attorney at the Department of Justice to better process violations of immigration law.
Avian Flu Preparedness and Prevention
Conference Report includes $2.3 billion as requested for avian flu preparedness activities.
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