Jim Nussle: “this measure--the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006, H.R. 2863--is the most significant component of our…”

“this measure--the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006, H.R. 2863--is the most significant component of our wartime budget for America. It funds the bulk of the national defense commitment, particularly the global war against terrorism. As Chairman of the Budget Committee, I am also pleased to report that the measure is consistent with the levels established by the conference report to H. Con. Res. 95, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006. The budget resolution called for $441.6 billion in discretionary budget authority for the national defense function in 2006, and an additional $50 billion under a special Exemption of Overseas Contingency Operations that would not count against the Defense subcommittee's 302(b) allocation. In this way the budget resolution anticipated costs for continuing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. A portion of the budget resolution's total national defense funding went toward the recently passed military quality of life and energy and water bills. This bill provides the balance of $363.4 billion in new discretionary budget authority towards funding the President's February defense budget request. It includes $45.3 billion that has been designated pursuant to section 401(a) of the budget resolution for Overseas Contingency Operations which are thereby exempt from the 302(b) allocations. These funds will, however, be counted against the discretionary totals identified in the budget resolution.…”