Cord Byrd: “the Senate will soon take up the FY 2001 Military Construction Conference Report. In addition to meeting the military…”

“the Senate will soon take up the FY 2001 Military Construction Conference Report. In addition to meeting the military construction needs of the nation, Divisions B & C contain emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 2000 totaling some $11.2 billion. The supplemental portion of the bill funds a broad array of urgently needed programs. More than $6 billion is provided for the emergency needs of the military. Of that amount, some $2 billion is to cover the cost of our peacekeeping operations in Kosovo; $1.6 billion is to recover increased fuel costs to the military; and $1.3 billion is for health benefits for the military. For the victims of natural disasters, particularly those who suffered the ravages of Hurricane Floyd, some $300 million is provided. And, $350 million is provided in emergency funds to replenish the fire management accounts of the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service. Those firefighting accounts are totally depleted and must be replenished immediately. The bill also provides $600 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance grants, and more than $600 million is provided to address the costs related to the disastrous fire at Los Alamos, New Mexico. One of the biggest pieces of the supplemental package is $1.3 billion to fully fund the President's request in support of Plan Colombia.”