On the recordMay 6, 2010
We are still working on the budget. I will hopefully bring that forward when it is ready, obviously when the Budget Committee considers it. As it relates to the Afghan-Pakistan supplemental, the President requested, as you know, approximately $33 billion in his budget at the beginning of the year. The Defense Department says that the money that they have will be depleted sometime this summer. It's important, obviously, therefore, that we move soon. And I hope to do that. I would hope that when we move this bill forward that we will see bipartisan support for it, obviously to support our troops in harm's way, carrying out a policy that I know, as the gentleman has observed before, the Republican whip himself and others have indicated their support of the President's policy in Afghanistan. This money for Afghanistan and Pakistan will fund those efforts. And I am hopeful when we do bring it forward that we will have bipartisan support for that piece of legislation.





