House OKs $94.5 billion for Iraq, Katrina relief

updated 9:59 p.m. ET June 13, 2006

WASHINGTON - As President Bush bolstered support for the Iraq government by appearing with its leaders in Baghdad, the House on Tuesday approved an additional $66 billion for military operations there and in Afghanistan.

When combined with earlier bills, the House-Senate compromise brings the tally for the three-year-old war in Iraq to about $320 billion. Operations in Afghanistan have now reached about $89 billion, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The House Appropriations Committee approved another $50 billion for the war for the budget year starting Oct. 1. That should be enough to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year, when Bush is expected to request more funds.

The $94.5 billion measure also provides funds for hurricane relief, bird flu preparations and border security at home.

The bill, which passed by a 351-67 vote, had only minimal debate Monday night.

Highlights of House-Senate bill Here are key elements of a compromise House-Senate $94.5 billion spending bill for Iraq, Afghanistan and Hurricane Katrina recovery passed Tuesday by the House: Iraq and Afghanistan wars $65.8 billion for Pentagon operations, including: — Personnel costs: $10.3 billion — Iraqi security forces: $4.9 billion to train and equip security forces of Afghanistan and Iraq. — Operations and maintenance: $37.9 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan — Procurement: $15 billion to replenish equipment and munitions. — Equipment: $8 billion for repairing and replacing equipment damaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. — Foreign aid: $4 billion in economic and food aid and funding for U.S. diplomatic efforts in Iraq. — Roadside bombs: $2 billion for countermeasures to disable improvised explosive devices. — C-17s: $228 million to begin procurement of seven C-17 cargo planes. — V-22s: $230 million for three V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. — Death benefit: Finances an increase in the military death benefit from $12,000 to 100,000 for families of soldiers killed in combat since October, 2001. Hurricane relief $19.8 billion for recovery efforts last years spate of Gulf Coast hurricanes, including: — FEMA: $6 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund, including $400 million for sturdier housing alternatives to temporary trailers. — Housing: $5.2 billion for flexible grants to states to implement Louisiana’s plan to give homeowners up to $150,000 to repair homes destroyed or badly damaged by last year’s hurricanes. — Flood control: $3.7 billion for New Orleans area flood control projects — Shipbuilding: $775 million for Navy shipbuilding. — Agriculture disasters: $500 million in Gulf Coast agriculture assistance, including $100 for forestry, $80 million for sugar cane growers and $140 million for livestock losses. — Education: $285 million for hurricane-related education programs, including $235 million to compensate states for displaced school students. Avian flu $2.3 billion to prepare for and respond to an avian flu pandemic. Border security $1.9 billion to implement Bush’s border security initiative, including $708 million to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops to the Mexican border The Associated Press

$450 billion on wars
Democrats said the huge cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan missions is being handled on the installment plan, hiding the cost from the public.

“In 18 separate actions, we will now have spent $450 billion on this adventure,” said Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “This is a huge expenditure for a misguided war.”

“This bill ensures we give (U.S. troops) all of the equipment and resources necessary to successfully fight and win the Global War on Terror,” said House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The bill contains almost $20 billion to further deal with the hurricane devastation along the Gulf Coast. Much of the money would go to Louisiana for housing aid, flood control projects and a new veterans hospital in New Orleans.

It also provides funding for small-business disaster loans, rebuilding federal facilities and replenishing Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster-relief coffers.

Bush signature expected Thursday
The Senate is to clear the measure for Bush’s signature Thursday. The big margin in the House reflected lawmakers’ support for U.S. troops overseas despite whatever reservations they may have about the war in Iraq and its $8 billion per month cost.

“How on earth has the monthly cost of the war in Iraq grown so much in just two years?” asked Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va. “The Bush administration announced that major combat operations ended in May of 2003. But the costs of the war continue to spiral.”

The Iraq and hurricane relief measure’s legislative odyssey began in February as a $92.2 billion request by Bush. He subsequently added $2.2 billion in Louisiana levee projects and $1.9 billion for a border security initiative featuring the deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The House largely stuck to Bush’s demands when passing its version back in March. But the Senate, led by Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., responded with a $109 billion measure that drew a veto threat from Bush for add-ons such as $4 billion in farm disaster aid, $648 million for port security and $1.1 billion in aid to the Gulf Coast seafood industry.

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