PROVIDES $65.8 BILLION FOR TROOPS IN THE FIELD, $19.8 BILLION FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE, AND $1.9 FOR BORDER SECURITY

Washington, Jun 13, 2006 - "It is imperative that we fully support our troops in the field as they wage the War on Terror," stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala).  "In addition, we must strengthen our border security and reduce illegal immigration."  Stearns joined the House today in approving the House and Senate agreement on H.R. 4939,the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terrorism, and Hurricane Recovery.

Explained Stearns, "H.R. 4939 adds $725 million above the requested level to upgrade our Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, and $480 more for up-armored Humvees for a total of $890 million.  It also provides nearly $2 billion for countermeasures against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which are a major threat to our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In strengthening our borders, it contains $1.9 billion to hire 1,000 new border agents, add 4,000 detention beds for illegal immigrants, and to cover the cost of National Guard deployments to the border.  Finally, H.R. 4939 provides $19.8 billion in disaster relief for rebuilding the Veterans' medical facility in New Orleans, to support recovery efforts and infrastructure repairs, and rebuilding the levees in the Gulf area."