Herb Kohl: “very soon the administration is expected to send to Congress supplemental appropriation requests to address ongoing…”

“very soon the administration is expected to send to Congress supplemental appropriation requests to address ongoing military needs in Iraq and the humanitarian crisis posed by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean. My hope is that the administration will include adequate food aid funding in that supplemental proposal. Recent press reports suggest they may be moving in that direction. If, however, the administration's proposed supplemental fails to provide adequate food aid funding, it is my intention to offer an amendment that would essentially accomplish four things. First, my amendment would provide full funding to meet U.S. food aid commitments from the tsunami under PL-480 title II. Second, my amendment will replenish PL-480 title II development funds that help meet our ongoing development programs across the globe. Third, it will shore up PL-480 title I funds that have been used as a stop-gap measure to address the crisis. And finally, it will replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, BEHT, so that our aid workers and development personnel can be assured of adequate resources to carry out their important lifesaving work in future crises.”