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Summary:
In a nationwide address on September 7, 2003, the President announced that he would request an additional $87 billion for ongoing military operations and for reconstruction assistance in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. On September 17, the White House submitted a formal request for FY2004 supplemental appropriations of that amount to Congress. Administration officials have said that they would like to see congressional action on the request completed some time before October 24, when an international donors conference is scheduled in Madrid to seek pledges of economic assistance for Iraq. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young has recently said that he hopes to have a conference report on supplemental appropriations completed by then. The House Appropriations Committee marked up its version of a supplemental appropriations bill for defense and for reconstruction (not yet numbered) on October 9, and the bill is expected to come to the floor the week of the October 13. The Senate Appropriations Committee marked up its version of a supplemental appropriations bill, S. 1689, on September 30, and the full Senate began floor debate on the bill on October 1. The Senate expects to resume consideration of the measure when it returns from recess the week of October 13. A wide range of legislative measures addressing costs, burdensharing, and other issues have been considered in congressional action on the bill. Proposals include measures providing part or all of reconstruction aid to Iraq as loans rather than grants; conditioning funds on strict reporting requirements; requiring the president to make greater efforts to increase international assistance; rolling back tax cuts to pay for the bill; transferring control of Iraq reconstruction from the Defense Department to the State Department; requiring competition in contracts in Iraq; and increasing personnel benefits for deployed troops. In addition, other measures could arise as congressional action proceeds, including proposals regarding funding for homeland security, international HIV/AIDS programs, and reconstruction assistance to Liberia.
