Thad Cochran: “this appropriations bill reported by our Committee on Appropriations responds to the President's request for…”

“this appropriations bill reported by our Committee on Appropriations responds to the President's request for supplemental funding for the Department of Defense and other departments and agencies. The bill provides $121.6 billion in emergency spending. Of this amount, $102.48 billion is provided to support Iraqi security forces to continue operations in Afghanistan and to wage the global war on terrorism. In testimony before our Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, we were told this funding is needed by the end of April. I am disappointed the bill contains language that sets forth a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The language amounts to a restatement of S.J. Res. 9, which a majority of Senators voted against, 50 to 48, on March 15. The Senate has spoken on this issue. Inclusion of this language as reported by the Appropriations Committee last week will only slow down the bill and invite a Presidential veto. We need to approve the funding now. Unnecessarily extending this debate is not going to serve the national interests. I will offer an amendment to strike this language from the bill. In this bill, the Appropriations Committee also approved $14.8 billion for additional emergencies, including $7.9 billion for continuing the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.”