Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2007

Contact:
Caroline Burns
202-225-3631

CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT ON REVISED FISCAL YEAR 2007 EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Washington, D.C. Today, the U.S. House of Representative passed the revised fiscal year 2007 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which will provide funding for continued combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill also provides emergency assistance for domestic emergencies such as agricultural disaster relief, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), Gulf Coast Recovery, children’s health care, and veterans and military health care. Earlier this month, President George W. Bush vetoed two previous versions of the spending measure, however, he is expected to sign the version passed today. Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Representative from Georgia’s Second Congressional District, voted in favor of the bill.

“Since the beginning of this year, Congress has labored long and hard to craft a bill to require accountability from the Executive Branch for the sacrifices being made in the name of this war, spur the Iraqi government to end sectarian strife and install a functioning democracy. And today, for third time in two months, the House of Representatives passed a bill with funding - above and beyond the President’s request - for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, proper training and equipment, and first-class health care for our injured troops,” said Congressman Bishop.

The bill provides $94.7 billion - $3 billion above the President’s request - to the Defense Department to fully fund the war for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends October 1st. Meanwhile, it requires the President to submit two reports to Congress by September 15th regarding the success of the Iraqi government in meeting the key security and political benchmarks. The Iraqi government’s progress toward meeting the benchmarks as outlined in the reports will then be taken into consideration in future war funding. Another supplemental appropriations bill to fund the war is expected in September.

Among the domestic spending emergencies incorporated into the bill that will benefit Georgia is $650 million for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). A portion of this funding is intended to address the current shortfall in Georgia’s version of SCHIP, known as PeachCare for Kids. Bishop, a member of the House Appropriations Committee since 2003, worked closely with Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Leadership to provide the additional funds to cover the shortfall in the SCHIP program.  His initial request came in January after a bi-partisan delegation from Georgia attended a meeting arranged by Bishop. 

Additionally, part of the $3.1 billion for BRAC will go toward projects scheduled for Fort Benning for fiscal year 2007, such as new administrative buildings and barracks.

“This bill strikes the proper balance by addressing spending emergencies both at home and abroad. I sincerely hope that President Bush signs this bill and that the Congress may now move on to other pressing matters that have been delayed by the past month’s deliberations.”

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