MEASURE CONTAINS MILLIONS FOR SPINACH PRODUCERS, PEANUT STORAGE, AND CAPITOL'S POWER PLANT

Washington, Mar 23, 2007 - "Our troops are engaged in the ongoing military operations, and this cynical bill uses them as a political bargaining chip for an additional $21 billion in non-emergency, pork barrel spending that is completely unrelated to winning the Global War on Terror," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala).  "I ask, what does $25 million for payments to spinach producers, $74 million to extend peanut storage payments, or $50 million for the Capitol's power plant have to do with winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?"

The House today took up H.R. 1591, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, which contains $124.3 billion in additional spending.  Although the measure designates $111.3 billion directly for operations related to the Global War on Terror, it contains funding for dozens of other programs: $100 million for citrus growers, $25 million for livestock farmers, $283 million in milk subsidies, $120 million for the shrimp industry, $5 million for those engaged in "breeding, rearing, or transporting live fish," and $80 million in tenant-based rental assistance for public and Indian housing.

"The men and women defending our freedoms deserve a funding bill solely dedicated to providing them the supplies, equipment, and training they need to complete their mission," concluded Stearns.