Jerry Lewis: “I rise simply to express my appreciation for both my chairman, Bill Young, and for Jack Murtha for this conference…”

“I rise simply to express my appreciation for both my chairman, Bill Young, and for Jack Murtha for this conference report. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report funding the Department of Defense, hurricane disaster assistance, and avian flu preparedness. The conference report funds the DoD at $403.5 billion plus a bridge fund of $50 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The conference report also includes a total of $29 billion for disaster assistance to hurricane damaged areas as well as $3.8 billion for avian flu preparedness. The conference report includes no new net spending for hurricane assistance and avian flu. Any additional expenditures are offset by the following: reallocating previously appropriated funds in FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, rescissions of un-obligated balances, and a one percent across-the-board reduction applied to all FY06 discretionary spending with the exception of VA funding. Let me be very clear: This package is less than ideal in my mind's eye, but it is absolutely critical that we pass it. As the body knows, the Appropriations Committee has made tremendous strides this year in reforming the process of adopting our annual spending bills. The Appropriations Committee has been strongly committed to bringing to this floor individual conference reports for each and every bill.…”