Patrick Leahy: “The information it contains concerns me, as it should every Senator. It shows that, as of February 29, 2004, nearly 4…”

“The information it contains concerns me, as it should every Senator. It shows that, as of February 29, 2004, nearly 4 months after President Bush signed the Iraq supplemental into law, only $900 million of the $18.4 billion appropriated for reconstruction programs has been obligated, less than 5 percent. At a time when security is the most critical issue in Iraq, sadly demonstrated by this week's tragic attacks in which nine Americans were killed, the administration has obligated only $292 million of the $3.24 billion for 'security and law enforcement,' less than 10 percent of the total appropriated. This is money that is supposed to go for training a new Iraqi army and police force to reduce the risks to American soldiers and civilians working in Iraq. On top of this, only $25 million for 'justice, public safety, and civil society' has been obligated. This is less than 3 percent of the $1 billion appropriated. Not one dime of the $1.85 billion appropriated in the supplemental has been obligated for 'health care,' 'private sector development,' 'roads, bridges and construction,' and 'transportation and telecommunications.' It would be one thing if the administration had warned us they were going to have trouble spending the $18 billion, but they said the opposite. They told us these funds were urgent. It was 'an emergency.' The money had to be appropriated immediately, and not one dime less than the amount requested.”