News and Views

House Approves Funding to Support Troops, Enhance GI Bill, Provide Midwest Flood Relief

WASHINGTON – The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday for a supplemental appropriations bill to fund the troops fighting the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan , enhance veterans’ education benefits, and provide disaster relief to the victims of devastating Midwest flooding, Congressman Jerry Lewis said.

            “This emergency supplemental funding for our troops is the single most important piece of legislation before Congress, and I am pleased that we are going to get these funds to our men and women in uniform as quickly as possible,” said Lewis, the senior Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The president requested these funds more than 14 months ago, and it has taken Congress far too long to meet our responsibilities to those who are fighting the war on terror.”

            Lewis said he was grateful that after nearly a year of partisan maneuvers, House leaders agreed to negotiate with President Bush to produce legislation that can receive bipartisan support and gain the president’s signature. In an effort to move along the troop funding without expensive political add-ons, Lewis introduced legislation last month to produce a “clean” supplemental bill that eliminated strings and new taxes.

            “I am thankful that House leaders finally understood that they cannot burden Americans with higher taxes to pay for expensive programs, and they cannot burden our military leaders with politically-motivated timetables that could actually endanger our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan ,” Lewis said. “I am confident the president will sign this bill as soon as it is cleared by the Senate.”

            The bill provides $161 billion to ensure that troops in the Middle East are supported for the next 12 months. It does not set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq , although it does not allow for any military construction funds to be used to build permanent U.S. bases in Iraq . It also requires that any further U.S. reconstruction aid be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Iraqi government.

            Funding will be provided to enhance the GI Bill education opportunities for service members, ensuring that all who have fought the war on terror can attend a four-year college. The legislation also allows service members to transfer educational benefits to their spouses and children. Although the bill originally would have established a new tax to pay for this funding, Lewis joined the White House in strong opposition, and the tax has been eliminated in the final version.

            “There is no question that we must do everything in our power to repay our brave men and women for their sacrifice, and ensure they can reach for their highest potential,” Lewis said. He co-sponsored a separate bill that would enhance the GI benefits without raising taxes to pay for the program.

            The legislation approved by the House also includes:

-           A 13-week extension of unemployment benefits for those workers who have exhausted their current benefits.

-          A $2.65 billion disaster relief fund for victims of Midwest flooding.

-          Increased foreign food assistance of $1.85 billion, as well as $500 million in refugee assistance.

-          $465 million to help Mexico fight the war on drugs.

-          $4.6 billion for military construction, including $863 million for military hospitals and $396 million for veterans hospitals. Also included is $210 million for military base child-care centers.

-          $5.8 billion to complete the strengthening of Louisiana levees by the end of 2009.

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