Haley Stevens: “in fiscal year 2002, Congress provided $5 million in the Department of Defense appropriations bill to transport and…”

“in fiscal year 2002, Congress provided $5 million in the Department of Defense appropriations bill to transport and distribute wheelchairs to the victims of overseas conflicts, landmines, and crippling illnesses if matched by private funds. These funds were allocated from amounts provided to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, DSCA. Since that time, the DSCA has worked with a nonprofit organization called the WheelChair Foundation to deliver over 120,000 wheelchairs to nearly 100 countries, including 5,810 to Afghanistan; 2,400 to Iraq; and over 3,900 to Jordan. I believe it is vital that we plan and invest not only to win the wars we fight, but also to win the peace. In that regard, this program has been an unqualified success. The hope and chance for a new life that a wheelchair can provide to someone who could never afford one has value beyond measure. Additionally, this program gives us the opportunity to leverage Federal support with the efforts of the nonprofit sector to accomplish more than we could do alone. The funding specifically earmarked for this initiative in fiscal year 2002 will likely be exhausted within the year. The legislation we are now considering would provide the full amount of the President's request for Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid of $61 million. It is our hope that funding will be available for this activity in the coming fiscal year if appropriate humanitarian needs are identified.”