Cord Byrd: “I sought to do three things: No. 1, to give the President every penny he asked for for defense. He requested $21…”

“I sought to do three things: No. 1, to give the President every penny he asked for for defense. He requested $21 billion. And there is not a penny cut away. We have added $7.5 billion for New York, et al, and $7.5 billion for homeland defense. We have a package that gives to the President $21 billion for defense. It provides that New York City and other areas that were attacked on September 11 would get the $20 billion that the President promised and to which we committed ourselves. On top of that, there is $7.5 billion for homeland defense. I didn't go to New York. I didn't go up there and promise that. But I saw, and I heard, with my heart and mind responding. We believe we ought to stand by our promises to New York, New Jersey, et al. Some have argued that approval of $15 billion for homeland defense and for New York disaster relief will result in pumping up spending for years to come. That is not my intent. In fact, I have included a provision in this bill directing OMB and the Congressional Budget Office to exclude the $15 billion from baseline calculations of future spending.”