Chris Dodd: “I rise to propose this amendment to the emergency supplemental spending bill to ensure that Congress and the…”

“I rise to propose this amendment to the emergency supplemental spending bill to ensure that Congress and the administration keep sight of what I believe must remain our number one priority for the conduct of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the protection of our American troops. According to the U.S. Army, the President's supplemental bill falls short of over $200 million for critical gear for our soldiers slated to rotate in Iraq and Afghanistan in the months ahead. This amendment was designed specifically to see to it that those U.S. troops coming into Iraq, into a theater of war, would receive important equipment they need to perform their missions effectively. This equipment includes important high-tech body armor, bullet-proof helmets, special water packs to keep soldiers hydrated, and other survival gear. As it stands now, the supplemental bill before the Senate only covers expenses for soldiers' personal equipment up to the first 3 months of 2004 and does not take into account very soon a considerable number of men and women who will be entering the theater to relieve soldiers who are there now.”