Cord Byrd: “The McCain amendment provides $848 million for defense that the President has not requested, is not assumed in the…”

“The McCain amendment provides $848 million for defense that the President has not requested, is not assumed in the budget resolution and is not authorized. Many of the items that would be funded in the McCain amendment will be considered as part of the annual DoD omnibus reprogramming request. DoD will cover many of these costs with their own offsets rather than through cutting non-defense programs. Many of the non-defense offsets contained in the amendment are objectionable: Job training: The McCain amendment rescinds an additional $141.5 million from the FY01 job training funds, $41.5 million from dislocated workers and $100 million from adult job training. This is in addition to the $217.5 million rescission already included in the bill. Increasing the rescission above the $217.5 million risks actual cuts on job training services. Security at Winter Olympics: The McCain amendment would cut $30 million from the Committee bill. The committee approved the funds to provide security for participants and visitors to the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.”