Rogers: War Supplemental Supports Troops, East Alabama Bases
Rogers: War Supplemental Supports Troops, East Alabama Bases
Includes amendment banning chemical weapons moves
Washington, DC - Legislation that passed the House today includes strong provisions to help support Alabama troops and their families as well as significant funding for military initiatives relating to the Third District, Congressman Mike Rogers said today.
"Alabama troops and National Guardsmen deserve our steadfast support as they serve our nation in uniform," Rogers said. "This bill will help get them the equipment and armor they need, as well as provide for the families of those soldiers who have paid the ultimate price."
H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief for FY 2005, passed the House 368-58-1. Rogers said the bill contains $76 billion for military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as increases the military death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000.
For East Alabama military interests, the bill contains $75 million for 47,000 additional sets of body armor; $611 million for add-on vehicle armor kits; $114 million for new Stryker vehicles; and $209 million to upgrade and up-armor M113 Personnel Carriers.
Rogers noted many of these functions are carried out at the Anniston Army Depot. "Northeast Alabama won't see all of this money, but we will continue to see increased workloads for area Depot employees and their partners like General Dynamics as a result of this bill."
The package also includes language prohibiting the Pentagon from studying efforts to move chemical weapons across state lines to incinerators like the facility in Anniston, and releases funding to continue construction of other incinerators, Rogers said.
The bill also sets minimum federal standards for issuing state driver's licenses, an effort recommended by the 9/11 Commission, and includes money for 500 new border patrol agents
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/al03_rogers/confdodsuppl82b.html