[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25144]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TODAY IN CONGRESS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today has been a very good day in the 
Senate, as well as in the House of Representatives, with a strong 
bipartisan majority vote in both Houses of Congress approving the funds 
necessary to support our soldiers and civilians serving in Iraq and to 
move quickly to stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan.
  I believe this is a major victory for the President of the United 
States in his efforts to bring stability and peace to Iraq.
  Personally, I am very pleased with the overwhelming bipartisan 
support for the President's proposal in the Senate. When the package 
was first sent to the Hill several weeks ago, very few thought it 
possible. We have had to make a number of difficult votes and, indeed, 
we worked very late last night, into the early hours of this morning, 
completing this bill, now, just several hours ago.
  I am certain the Senate- and House-passed bills will allow us that 
opportunity to negotiate a final legislative package that, indeed, will 
give the President everything he requested.
  It was important to do. It was important to complete this legislation 
today especially, not only to get the money to our troops as soon as 
possible and to rebuild the civilian infrastructure in Iraq as soon as 
possible but also because of the donor conference in Madrid next week.
  The President, indeed, has made a strong stand for freedom and 
democracy in Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, and he has taken forceful 
action against brutality and terrorism in the region, and by doing so 
has made America safer and our citizens more secure.
  Indeed, we are at war in Afghanistan as well as Iraq. The funds in 
this legislation provide both the direct support for our soldiers, as 
well as an investment in creating a safer environment in the countries 
where they serve. The legislation will make them safer and, in all 
likelihood, will get them home sooner.
  I also want to take this opportunity to commend Senator Stevens for 
his tremendous leadership on this particular legislation, as well as 
Senator Warner and Senator McCain and Senator McConnell, all for their 
tireless efforts to pass this emergency funding request.

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