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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 Committeemarked up its version of a supplemental
appropriations bill for defense and for reconstruction (H.R. 3289) on October 9, and
floor action began on October 15. The SenateAppropriations Committeemarked 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 resumed
consideration of the measure on October 14.
Awide range of legislativemeasures addressing costs, burdensharing, and other
issues have been considered in congressional action. Proposals have included
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; shifting funds from Iraq reconstruction to domestic programs; transferring
control of Iraq reconstruction from the DefenseDepartment to the State Department;
requiring competition in contracts in Iraq; increasing personnel benefits for deployed
troops; and providing reconstruction assistance to Liberia.
