Conference Report on H.R. 4939, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurrican Recovery, 2006
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4939, EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, AND HURRICANE RECOVERY, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - June 12, 2006)
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Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The supplemental provides $94.5 billion for the global war on terror, disaster assistance, border security and avian flu preparedness. This measure provides significant funding to fight the global war on terrorism and support the troops. Funding for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom are provided at $65.8 billion. This includes funding earmarked by Congress for Humvees, Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles.
Additionally, the conference report includes roughly $2 billion to develop and procure countermeasures to prevent Improvised Explosive Devices attacks on our troops.
Funding for disaster assistance is at the President's request of $19.8 billion. Included in the funding is the following: $6 billion for FEMA disaster relief; $5.2 billion for community and economic development; $3.7 billion for various flood control repairs by the Army Corps of Engineers; as well as $500 million for agriculture disaster assistance for farmers, ranchers and producers affected by the 2005 hurricanes. The total is $3.4 billion below the Senate-passed bill.
Avian flu preparedness is funded at the President's request of $2.3 billion. Border security is funded at $1.9 billion. This funding provides $708 million to deploy National Guard troops along the Southwest border.
Additionally, $1.2 billion is provided to the Department of Homeland Security to enhance border security. This funding also assumes the hiring of 1,000 new Border Patrol agents, 4,000 additional detention beds and various tactical and logistics support activities for the Secure Borders Initiative.
Finally, the border security package also earmarks $20 million to increase judges and attorneys at the Department of Justice to better process violation of immigration laws.
The conferees worked exhaustively to knock out items not related to the global war on terror and disaster assistance, as well as to reduce the overall funding for this package.
You may recall the Senate-passed bill was $108.9 billion. The House-passed bill was $91.9 billion. The House bill was passed on March 16. Remember that, Mr. Speaker, March 16, prior to the President's formally requesting funding for border security, avian flu preparedness or levees. This package is $94.5 billion. The final conference report before us is $14.4 billion below the Senate-passed bill.
The conference report excluded funding for a $700 million railroad relocation project and no language compelling the DOD to cover hurricane damage to shipyard facilities otherwise covered by private insurance.
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Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I would yield back as well except just to make a comment about your comment, and that is to say first and foremost, the gentleman made some very interesting comments that I have a good deal of empathy for, but beyond that, this bill would not be here in this timely fashion, in this form, in a bipartisan spirit if the gentleman had not been very, very cooperative in this effort, and I appreciate that.
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