Cord Byrd: “Mr. President, I regret that I am unable to support the conference agreement on the emergency disaster assistance…”

“Mr. President, I regret that I am unable to support the conference agreement on the emergency disaster assistance appropriations bill, H.R. 1469, now before the Senate. I am unable to do so despite my total support for the more than $5 billion in disaster assistance payments which are included in this measure for the hundreds of thousands of people across the country who are the victims of the many natural disasters that have occurred in recent months. I also support the nearly $2 billion contained in the measure for aid to our men and women in uniform around the world, particularly in Bosnia, engaged in peacekeeping operations, as well as the nearly $1 billion contained in the measure for payment of veterans' compensation and pensions. These funds are all vitally needed for the purposes for which they are appropriated and should be made available at the earliest possible time. Indeed, it is my view Congress should not have recessed for the recent Memorial Day break without having enacted into law these funds that are contained in this bill. Unfortunately, as did the bill when reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and after Senate action, this conference agreement contains a number of controversial, extraneous legislative provisions which have no business being included in an emergency disaster assistance bill.”