March 16, 2006

Pryce: Supplemental Will Fund National Security Priorities, Hurricane Reconstruction

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) today said H.R. 4939 – the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery – will fund our national security priorities and provide needed assistance for those recovering from the devastating hurricanes that swept through our nation last year.

“House Republicans have built a record of action on national security issues, supporting our military, providing for a strong national defense, and aggressively prosecuting the war on terror,” said Pryce. “The supplemental appropriations bill ensures that our troops will have the tools they need to defend our freedom. We remain committed to supporting our troops, winning the war on terror, and defending our nation from every threat, both at home and abroad.

“The supplemental appropriations bill also provides needed funding for disaster relief efforts to help those still suffering from the effects of last year’s hurricanes. Having just returned from our Gulf Coast region, I know full well that its people are still hurting and that much of its infrastructure remains ravaged. Until you can see the catastrophic damage firsthand, it is difficult to fully comprehend the enormity and complexity of the clean up effort. Today’s vote honors our commitment to help these people become whole again.”

Among other things, the supplemental appropriations bill will fund the following priorities:

  • Armored humvees and tracked vehicles for our troops;
  • The procurement and development of countermeasures to prevent Improvised Explosive Devices attacks on our troops;
  • Training and equipment for Iraqi and Afghani security forces;
  • Increased oversight of war expenditures;
  • Repair and reconstruction projects in communities damaged by last year’s hurricanes; and
  • Levee repairs and flood control projects.

During consideration of the measure, Congresswoman Pryce voted against an effort to strip language from the supplemental bill to block the Dubai Ports World deal.  While the proposed ports transaction is presumed to be scuttled, the vote makes clear that Congress will not allow any federal funds to be used for this transaction.

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