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National

House okays $94.5-billion for wars, hurricane relief

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 14, 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 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.

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.

The Senate is to clear the measure for Bush's signature later this week. 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.

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.

[Last modified June 14, 2006, 07:11:01]