Byron Dorgan: “I support the Byrd amendment because I think that it includes important investments in our homeland security. For…”

“I support the Byrd amendment because I think that it includes important investments in our homeland security. For example, the amendment includes over $500 million for interoperability for our first responders. It includes $125 million for port security grants so that we can increase our surveillance of the thousands of containers that enter our country. And it includes $111 million for border security. Overall, the amendment provides $2 billion in 11 key areas that desperately need increased funding. In its current form, this amendment does not include any offsetting reductions to pay for the new investments. If this amendment is adopted today--and I hope that it will be--I intend to work with the conferees to offset these increases by reducing funds that have been earmarked for Iraqi reconstruction. I believe this expenditure should be offset with these other spending cuts. Iraq is a nation that sits on some of the largest oil reserves in the world. My view is that Iraq should pay for its own reconstruction. Last year, this Congress acted in an expedited way to appropriate $18.4 billion for Iraqi reconstruction. And yet, 10 months later, most of that money is still unspent. Less than $1 billion has been actually expended and only about $7 billion has been obligated. Therefore, I support Senator Byrd's amendment and I will vote for it today.”