[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1161]]
    WAIVING POINTS ON ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4939, 
 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR 
                ON TERROR, AND HURRICANE RECOVERY, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2006

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the FY2006 Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations bill, which provides $2.325 billion for 
international assistance programs, $162 million above the House-passed 
level. The bill provides $1.485 billion for Iraq reconstruction and 
fully funds the administration's request for Afghanistan.
  I am particularly pleased that the conference report provides $50 
million above the President's requests for Sudan, Liberia and Jordan as 
well as $20 million for Haiti. I am also pleased that we were able to 
include an additional $25 million for refugee assistance and $25 
million in disaster assistance above the request level.
  In light of the escalating security costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, I 
regret that we were not able to fully fund the administration's request 
for operating expenses, but I am pleased that the conference report 
significantly increases funding above the House-passed level.
  While the conference report fully funds the President's request for 
assistance to Afghanistan, $46 million in program funds for that 
country is not even a drop in the bucket. In light of the increasing 
violence and fragile political situation in Afghanistan, it is shameful 
that the administration failed to push for the $600 million that 
Ambassador Neumann indicated was necessary.
  I applaud the funding in this bill for Sudan and for other 
humanitarian needs in Africa. However, I was disappointed that the 
administration did not seek robust funding for the fledgling democracy 
in Liberia and the critical transition in Haiti. The funding added by 
Congress--an additional $50 million for Liberia and $20 million for 
Haiti--will provide critical short-term support to meet refugee and 
humanitarian needs as well as help to stabilize these countries during 
the initial months of their transitions.
  I regret that our conference allocation only allowed us to maintain 
half of the $100 million for Jordan that was passed by the Senate. 
Jordan has been a steadfast and important ally in the war on terror, as 
was clearly demonstrated by the assistance of Jordanian intelligence in 
the targeting of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. It is a shame that arbitrary 
limits placed on this supplemental have prevented us from fully funding 
this priority country.
  Finally, let me speak to the bulk of the funding in the Foreign 
Operations section of the bill, which is for activities in Iraq. I 
support the additional funding because I think we owe our men and women 
in uniform in Iraq every chance to enhance their safety and return home 
speedily. To this end, I am glad that the conference report includes at 
least $50 million for democracy and governance activities and $50 
million for the Community Action Program. These programs are having a 
tremendous impact and are more cost effective than many of the 
investments we have made thus far.
  However, I am dismayed that neither the House nor the Senate included 
placed these additional funds under the oversight mandate of the 
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. By failing to 
include this language, the House and Senate majority sent a clear 
message to American taxpayers that while Congress expects them to bear 
the burden of reconstructing Iraq, we are not interested in taking 
every precaution necessary to ensure that their money is accountably 
and effectively spent.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the 
conference report.

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