On April 23 the House and Senate conferees approved a $124.2 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2007. The bill includes $95.5 billion for the Department of Defense, primarily to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, roughly $4 billion more than the amount sought by the Bush Administration. This funding is in addition to the $70 billion “bridge fund” in war funding for FY’07 that Congress approved last September. To date Congress has approved over $500 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, not including the $95.5 billion included in the conference agreement, nor the $141.7 billion in additional funding already requested by the Administration for fiscal year 2008. The House and Senate are expected to take up this bill on Wednesday and Thursday, April 25-26.
For several weeks President George W. Bush, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and other administration and Pentagon officials have been making dire predictions about the impact on U.S. forces in Iraq if Congress fails to enact immediately emergency spending legislation to fund U.S. military operations. Secretary Gates warned Congress that if funding legislation were not passed by April 15, the military would have to reduce training for units preparing to deploy or halt necessary equipment repairs.
On March 15 the House Appropriations Committee approved a $124.3 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2007. The bill includes $95.5 billion for the Department of Defense, primarily to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, roughly $4 billion more than the amount sought by the Bush Administration.
On February 16, the Bush Administration submitted to Congress its Fiscal Year 2006 supplemental spending request to cover the costs of ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Congressional leaders are reportedly hoping to pass this funding prior to the April recess.
On February 16, the Bush Administration submitted to Congress its Fiscal Year 2006 supplemental spending request to cover the costs of ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
The House Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the FY06 Defense Appropriations bill on September 29. The bill includes $440.2 billion for the Department of Defense. This includes $390 billion in annual funding for the Pentagon, plus an additional $50 billion bridge fund for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The $390 billion is $7 billion below the Bush Administrations request ($397.2 billion) and $939 million below current levels. The full Senate is expected to consider the legislation on September 29.
The Senate Armed Services Committee completed its markup of S. 1042, the FY06 Defense Authorization bill, on May 13. The bill includes $441.6 billion for the Department of Defense and the nuclear weapons activities of the Department of Energy. This is an increase of $21.0 billion above current levels, a real (inflation-adjusted) increase of 3.1 percent. The bill also authorizes $50.0 billion for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan the amount recently requested by the Bush Administration. This funding is NOT counted as part of the $441.6 billion. The full Senate is expected to, although may not, take up the legislation prior to the August recess.
The House Appropriations Committee completed its markup of H.R. 2863, the FY06 Defense Appropriations bill, on June 7. The bill includes $409 billion for the Department of Defense. This includes $363.7 billion in annual funding for the Pentagon, plus an additional $45.3 billion bridge fund for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The $363.7 billion is $11.0 billion above current levels, but is $3.3 billion below the Bush Administrations request. The full House is expected to consider the legislation the week of June 13.
The House Armed Services Committee completed its markup of H.R. 1815, the FY’06 Defense Authorization bill, on May 19. The bill includes $441.6 billion for the Department of Defense and the nuclear weapons activities of the Department of Energy. This is $19.5 billion above the amount authorized for FY’05. The bill also authorizes $49.1 billion for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This funding is NOT counted as part of the $441.6 billion. The full House is expected to take up consideration of the legislation Wednesday, May 25.
For a summary of this breakdown see, "Highlights of the Conference Agreement on the Fiscal Year 2005 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 1268)" ($ in Millions) Title I – Defense President’s Request: $74,979.7 million House Passed: $76,923.9 million Senate...
[ complete archive ]