S6234 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 President Bush was going to veto a this supplemental. It comes to us from hind a $300 bill due the Veterans’ Ad- bill. the House with a vote, I recall, of 416 to ministration for education benefits— I will be happy to yield for a ques- 12. The President asked for most of the that they were not able to finish be- tion. provisions in this bill. The one provi- cause they gave their life in the war— Mr. MCCONNELL. When the Presi- sion I would like to speak very briefly would then get a bill from the Vet- dent of the United States vetoes a bill, about tonight is the GI bill provision erans’ Administration for that $385? In it doesn’t become law, right, unless it that is in this supplemental. This is fact, Mr. President, that is what has is overridden? not an expansion of veterans’ benefits. been happening since we went into the Mr. REID. Absolute truth. This is a new program. This is the first war on terror. Mr. MCCONNELL. So if the President wartime GI bill benefit since Vietnam. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs vetoes this bill, it is not likely that the I wish to thank very much people on asked me to introduce a bill so he fix will be prevented at the end of the both sides of the aisle for all the work would not have to do that because he week; is that right? we have been able to do. There were 11 knew it was wrong and that we Mr. REID. I say to my friend and I Republicans who cosponsored this pro- wouldn’t want it being done. This bill say I don’t know how many people are vision, in addition to others who voted we are voting on tonight will go retro- up here for reelection, but I am watch- for it the first time around. There were active to 9/11, 2001, and it will assure ing a few of them pretty closely, I say more than 300 sponsors in the House. that every family who has been sent a to all these people who are up for re- Those sponsors in the House included bill and paid that bill, after their loved election: If you think you can go home 90 Republicans. one has died in service to their coun- and say, I voted no because this weak I especially express my appreciation try, will be reimbursed, and no bill will President, the weakest political stand- to Senator HAGEL and Senator WAR- ever go out again. That is in this bill, ing since they have done polling, I NER, as well as Senator LAUTENBERG, and I am very proud we finally passed voted because I was afraid to override for being the principal cosponsors it. his veto—come on. along with me on this measure, also Also in this bill is the Merida Initia- tive, as part of the supplemental. In The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- Chairman AKAKA of the Veterans’ Af- publican leader. fairs Committee and the majority lead- my home State, and all the border States with Mexico, we are seeing vio- Mr. MCCONNELL. We probably don’t er, who was with us early on. lence with drug cartels that are now need to prolong it much further, but in There are people on my staff who targeting our law enforcement officers spite of the political observations of were working on this every day for 18 on our side of the border as well as my good friend, the fact is, the Presi- months, it is a very complex bill: Paul those in Mexico. They are dying trying dent, as a matter of principle, will not Reagan, my chief of staff; Michael to stop the drug cartels that are im- sign this bill. At the end of the week, Sozan, my legislative director; William porting drugs into our country. The the doctors’ reduction in reimburse- Edwards, my legislative assistant for Merida Initiative that President Bush ment will go into effect. There is a way veterans’ affairs; Jacki Ball; Jessica and President Calderon have put to- to prevent that, and that is to do a Smith and Kimberly Hunter, who are on our communications staff; Phillip gether is a part of this supplemental. I short-term extension to give us an op- had hoped that we could also help our portunity to do what we have done in Thompson and Mac McGarvey, both former Marines, who worked hard early local law enforcement officials who do the past on these measures, and that is not have the equipment they need to on. And those from the staff of the negotiate a settlement. That has been deal with these more violent, more so- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Bill prevented by my good friend. phisticated drug cartels, but I am tell- Brew, staff director, and Babette I think we have discussed this issue ing you right now I am going to pursue Polzer. long enough. We have others waiting to that in the next bill we pass that is an This is a landmark piece of legisla- debate the supplemental. appropriations bill because our local tion that will be in this provision. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under law enforcement officials are certainly There are going to be a lot of veterans the previous order, the motion to pro- in need of our help. ceed to H.R. 6331 is withdrawn, and the in the United States who are going to We didn’t get that in this bill, and I bill is returned to the calendar. be very happy with the Senate tonight. am disappointed, but there will be an- I yield the floor. other day. We have to do this together. f The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who We have to stop the drug infusion into yields time? The Senator from Texas is SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS our country and stop these heinous recognized. ACT, 2008 crimes that are being committed by Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the drug cartels in Mexico. Chair lays before the Senate a message know the time is late. This is a very So I support this bill. I hope we will from the House. important bill. It is one that has many all support it. It is a supplemental. The legislative clerk read as follows: good features, and the good features Most of it is what the President asked certainly outweigh the bad features. I for. We didn’t all get what we wanted, Resolved, That the House agree to the know we never get everything we want amendments of the Senate to the amend- but it is a worthy bill to support. ments of the House to the amendment of the in Congress. We certainly heard a lot Mr. President, I yield the floor. Senate to the bill (H.R. 2642) entitled ‘‘An about that a few minutes ago. I wish to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Act making appropriations for military con- talk about a couple of very important ator from Oklahoma is recognized. struction, the Department of Veterans Af- parts of this bill. Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, I plan fairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year Also in the GI bill is something I to raise a point of order in a moment, ending September 30, 2008, and for other pur- worked very hard to put in that bill, but first I wish to make a statement. poses,’’ with amendments. which is the transferability of the edu- The emergency spending bill being The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under cation benefits that a person in the considered by the Senate would provide the previous order, the motion to con- military now is able to transfer to a $210 million for the 2010 Census. No cur in the House amendments to the spouse or children. strings are attached to the funding, Senate amendment to the House There are many people who don’t giving the Census Bureau freedom to amendment to the Senate amendment want to leave the military to take that spend the money in any way it chooses. to the bill is considered made. education opportunity, but they would While the mission of the Census Bureau The Senator from Virginia is recog- love to give their spouse or their child is vitally important because of its role nized. that opportunity. It is now in this bill. in apportioning the House of Rep- Mr. WEBB. Are we in order to pro- Very important. resentatives and the distribution of bil- ceed on the supplemental? It also incorporates a bill that I in- lions of dollars in federal grants, the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- troduced early this year, again, for vet- agency has proved to be notoriously ator is recognized for up to 5 minutes. erans. Who would have thought, Mr. bad at spending taxpayer money—and Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I don’t ex- President, that someone who dies serv- the last thing Congress should do is pect very many people to vote against ing our country in and leaves be- provide more.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:25 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26JN6.123 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE June 26, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6235 Emergency spending bills should be online according to the Pew Internet It is not permanent—the need is tem- reserved only for true emergencies, and and American Life Project, 75 percent porary in nature. the 2010 Census is not one of them. The of all adults are actively online. That Not only does funding for the Census Census Bureau has spent hundreds of percentage increases to between 85–90 fall short of meeting all of the criteria millions of dollars over the past 8 years percent for adults under the age of 50. for emergency spending, it actually preparing for the 2010 Census. Yet, even According to the Census Bureau, the fails to meet any of the criteria. that much time and that much money impact of abandoning technology in According to Senate Concurrent Res- has not been enough to prevent the Bu- the 2010 Census will be a $3 billion over- olution 21, any emergency funding for reau from being woefully underpre- run. This would bring the total price the Census would have to be ‘‘nec- pared. tag of the 2010 Census to roughly $14.5 essary, essential, or vital—not merely One of the top priorities for the 2010 billion—or more than double the cost useful or beneficial.’’ The purpose of Census was modernizing the method for in 2000. Congress should not reward this rule is to separate true emer- collecting census data so that tech- mismanagement at the Census Bureau gencies from needs that can wait for nology would replace the traditional with an additional $210 million in the regular appropriations process. An pen and paper method. One former Di- emergency funding for FY 2008. It is accurate count of the population is im- rector of the Census Bureau called the unfair that Congress would ask tax- portant for apportioning the House of modernization effort a ‘‘significant im- payers to bail out the Census Bureau Representatives, but that alone does provement’’ over the way data had for its incompetence in light of the re- not qualify it for emergency funding. been collected in the past. peated warnings that cost overruns One of the best ways to determine Modernization of the census would would result from its poor manage- whether funding is ‘‘necessary’’ or take two forms: ment. ‘‘vital’’ is to ask the following basic First, allowing citizens to fill out Because the problems of the Census question: ‘‘How does the Census Bureau census forms over the Internet, rather Bureau are of its own making, any ad- plan to spend $210 million?’’ If funding than on paper only. ditional funding needs for fiscal year is truly necessary then there should be Second, equipping census workers 2008 should come out of the budget of a clear answer to that question in the who go door-to-door to collect informa- the Census Bureau or the Department form of a specific plan stating the tion with handheld computers instead of Commerce. The real ‘‘emergency’’ emergency and how the money would of paper forms. with the 2010 Census is the failure, mis- be spent. So, what is the money for? Two contracts were awarded to build management and incompetence of the The answer is: no one knows. the technology: one to Lockheed Mar- Census Bureau. The Census Bureau has not requested tin for, among other things, the devel- According to Congress’ own rules, any emergency funding from the emer- opment of an online system and a sec- emergency spending is only allowed for gency supplemental appropriations ond to the Harris Corporation for the needs that truly cannot wait until the bill, nor has it provided a plan for how development of the handheld com- next spending cycle. These rules are the money would be spent if received. puters. Unfortunately, mismanagement not difficult to understand and lay out At a March 6, 2008, hearing of the Sen- and incompetence forced the Census clearly what is and what is not an ate Appropriations Subcommittee on Bureau to abandon both the Internet in emergency. Commerce, Justice, and Science, Chair- There are many activities funded in March 2006 and the handheld computers man BARBARA MIKULSKI directly asked in April 2008 as a means of collecting the bill that are not actual emer- both the Commerce Secretary, Carlos data. In place of technology, the Bu- gencies according to the rules, but at Gutierrez, and the Census Director, reau has decided to revert back to an the top of the list of non-emergencies Steven Murdock, whether they needed is the $210 million for the 2010 Census. entirely paper-based system—exactly emergency funding. Sen. MIKULSKI The 2010 Census may go down in his- the same way census data was col- gave them a deadline of April 10 to tory as one of the worst managed and lected 200 years ago. make their request, but both the Sec- According to the Census Bureau, the most expensive of all time, primarily retary of Commerce and the Director of because it saw enormous problems on reason for abandoning technology and the Census Bureau declined to request the horizon and chose to ignore them— reverting to paper was its own failure any funding. In response, the Com- leading to the emergency today. to communicate what it wanted to the Problems at the Census Bureau have merce Department stated that it did contractors. The result was a great been obvious to auditors and to Con- not need emergency money because deal of confusion, schedule delays and gress for years, and the funding in this plenty of funding was available within irreversible cost overruns. According bill is nothing more than a taxpayer- the department’s existing budget. On to the Government Accountability Of- subsidized bailout for a mismanaged April 3, 2008—a week ahead of Sen. MI- fice, the Census Bureau was warned re- and incompetent agency. The Senate KULSKI’s deadline—Secretary of Com- peatedly that problems would mount if should uphold a point of order against merce Gutierrez instead sent Congress it failed to define what it wanted the the $210 million included in this bill for a request to allow the Department to contractor to do. Instead of taking ac- the 2010 Census because it violates reprogram the department’s existing tion, the Bureau kept changing its every definition of emergency spending funds to cover the cost overruns at the mind about what it wanted. As re- and provides no accountability for how Census Bureau. Reprogramming exist- cently as January 16, 2008—nearly 2 the money will be spent by an agency ing funds would force the Department years after the contract was awarded— that has proven that it desperately of Commerce to offset an increase in the Census Bureau made 400 changes to needs accountability. Census funding and to bear the burden the contract for handheld computers. According to the rules, spending can of its own mistakes rather than placing To this day, the Census Bureau has only qualify as an emergency if it the burden on taxpayers. On June 9, still not finalized the handheld com- meets all of the following criteria: the President sent a letter to Congress puter contract with the Harris Cor- It is a necessary expenditure—an es- asking for an increase to its fiscal year poration and may not do so until Sep- sential or vital expenditure, not one 2009 budget request for the Census, but tember. that is merely useful or beneficial; also provides offsetting decreases to The Census Bureau’s mismanagement It is sudden—coming into being other programs. The Administration of the handheld computer contract has quickly, not building up over time; has stated that it would like for all become the poster-child for how not to It is urgent—a pressing and compel- Census money to come from non-emer- run a large information technology ling need requiring immediate action; gency spending, which would ensure contract. Poor management by the Bu- It is unforeseen—not predictable or that the Census Bureau’s needs are not reau has diminished the role that tech- seen beforehand as a coming need, al- paid for out of deficit spending. nology will play in the 2010 census to though an emergency that is part of an Unfortunately, Congress has chosen the point of embarrassment. Americans overall level of anticipated emer- deficit spending over fiscal responsi- will take their Census by paper at the gencies, particularly when estimated bility by including $210 million in this same time that more than 80 million in advance, would not be ‘‘unforeseen’’; bill for the Census. Congress would people are filing their Federal taxes and rather spend additional taxpayer

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:25 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.058 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE S6236 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 money than cut existing program budg- cluding how to incorporate technology. July 2007—GAO testified again before ets within the Department of Com- The Census Bureau ignored the rec- a Senate subcommittee that there were merce. Including money in this bill for ommendation and moved forward with- ‘‘technical problems with the handheld the census shows little regard for tax- out a plan. computing devices’’ and that ‘‘risk payers, viewing them as a source of September 2004—The Commerce In- management activities’’ were ‘‘impera- easy money rather than as people who spector General warned that the Bu- tive.’’ Failure to address these con- work hard for their income. Congress is reau should follow a number of key cerns could threaten to overtake the simply playing games with the budget ‘‘software engineering practices’’ to handheld computer project. rules and driving up the deficit. avoid pitfalls with the handheld com- October 2007—Once again GAO, with Senate rules require that emergency puters. These included doing a better a rising sense of urgency, warned that spending bills be reserved only for job with ‘‘system requirements’’ and the handheld contract faced ‘‘an in- needs that are ‘‘sudden, urgent and un- overseeing its contractor. The contract creased probability that decennial sys- foreseen’’ in nature. The United States for the handhelds was awarded to the tems will not be delivered on schedule has been conducting a census every 10 Harris Corporation with very few de- and within budget.’’ The Census Bu- years since 1790 as required by the Con- tails about what should be produced— reau did not disagree with this assess- stitution and therefore is never unfore- more than two years later the plans ment. seen. are still not finalized. November 2007—MITRE Corporation The Census Bureau is, however, cur- June 2005—GAG warned the Census executives called an emergency meet- rently facing a likely $3 billion cost Bureau that the agency was ‘‘at in- ing with the Deputy Director of the overrun for the 2010 Census because of creased risk of not adequately man- Census to recommend that he develop a its decision to abandon the use of aging major IT investments and is backup plan for paper because the handheld computers and rely exclu- more likely to experience cost and problems with the handheld computers sively on paper. Only by stretching the schedule overruns and performance were so severe. meaning of ‘‘sudden, urgent and un- shortfalls.’’ GAO made several rec- December 2007—In the last days of foreseen’’ beyond recognition can it be ommendations aimed at improving the year on December 11, the outgoing said that the Census Bureau did not see weaknesses in the Bureau’s manage- Director of the Census Bureau testified this problem coming. More than 18 ment of information technology. The at a House hearing about the handheld months ago, the Census Bureau itself Census Bureau failed to adequately re- computers and brushed off any con- recognized that abandoning the spond to these recommendations. cerns raised by Members. He denied handheld computers for paper would re- March 2006—As the Bureau was get- that any serious problems existed or sult in a cost increase for the 2010 Cen- ting ready to award the contract to the that there were any significant delays Harris Corporation, GAO warned that sus of at least $1 billion. or cost overruns. For years, there were warnings raised On August 31, 2006, Former Census the agency did not have a ‘‘full set of to the Census Bureau on nearly a Director Louis Kincannon wrote a let- capabilities they need to effectively monthly basis at times, but those ter to the Subcommittee on Federal manage the acquisitions.’’ Unless the warnings were patently ignored and Financial Management with the fol- problem was to be addressed, GAO disdained by Census management. Not lowing warning about reverting to a warned that technology problems could lead to ‘‘cost overruns, schedule delays, until February 2008—when the media paper-based census: caught wind of the true situation—did ‘‘In addition to significant cost in- and performance shortfalls.’’ The Cen- the Census Bureau acknowledge pub- creases to the 2010 Census, reverting to sus Bureau ignored the warnings and licly that there was a serious problem a paper-based operation will com- still has not addressed them more than with the handheld computers and that promise efforts to improving coverage two years later. June 2006—The Senate Subcommittee large cost overruns were likely. . . . and will significantly increase the on Federal Financial Management held In testimony before the Senate risk of operational failure during the a hearing on the Census and then-Di- Homeland Security Committee on 2010 Census.’’ rector Louis Kincannon was asked March 5, 2008, the Secretary of Com- Even as that letter was written, the about whether there was a backup plan merce, Carlos Gutierrez, took it one Census Bureau was being warned that if the handheld computers did not step further and accepted responsi- its poor management of the handheld work. Even as the GAO was raising bility for failing to act earlier. He said: computer project could force the Bu- concerns that technology for the 2010 ‘‘Clearly the problem was more sig- reau to revert to an all-paper census. Census was in jeopardy, the Director nificant than had been conveyed in the The problems and cost overruns that said that no backup plan was needed December 11 hearing. are materializing today were predicted since the computers were guaranteed In testimony before the Committee publicly for a long time, but the Census to work, and said the following: on April 15, Secretary Gutierrez admit- Bureau ignored the warnings and took ‘‘You might as well ask me what hap- ted that the Bureau was aware of prob- no action to prevent the problems. pens if the Postal Service refuses to de- lems by early 2007, when he said: Chairman HENRY WAXMAN, of the liver the census forms.’’ ‘‘Concerns about the [handheld com- House Oversight and Government Re- July 2006—GAO issued a report stat- puter) program grew over time and form Committee, has extensively docu- ing that if the Census Bureau did not Census and Commerce officials became mented the warnings that were given do more to ensure the success of the increasingly aware of the significance to the Census Bureau over several handheld computers, it would be faced of the problems through GAO and Of- years. In addition, the Census Bureau with the ‘‘possibility of having to re- fice of Inspector General reviews, the was warned repeatedly by the Govern- vert to the costly paper-based census 2007 dress rehearsal and internal as- ment Accountability Office, the Com- used in 2000.’’ sessments.’’ merce Inspector General, the MITRE April 2007—GAO testified before Con- None of these concerns were relayed Corporation and Congress about its gress that ‘‘uncertainty surrounded’’ to Congress until it was too late and poor planning of the 2010 Census. Each the handheld computers because the emergency funding was the only re- step along the way, the Bureau system- devices were not being properly tested course. With this chronology of events, atically ignored every warning, leading and The Census Bureau ignored the it is simply not possible to claim that to the schedule delays and cost over- warnings. any problems with the 2010 Census runs being experienced today. The fol- June 2007—The Census Bureau’s pri- being seen today are ‘‘sudden, urgent lowing chronology shows clearly that vate, independent consultant—the and unforeseen.’’ They have been just the current problems being experienced MITRE Corporation—sounded a loud the opposite: unsurprising, long- by the Census Bureau are not ‘‘sudden, alarm and warned that the Bureau’s standing and predictable. urgent or unforeseen.’’ continued refusal to make final speci- Without diminishing the importance January 2004—GAG recommended fications could put the entire census at of the 2010 Census, the funding in this that the Secretary of Commerce de- risk of severe cost overruns. Census bill does not meet the definition of an velop a ‘‘single integrated project Bureau management dismissed the emergency by a long shot. The prob- plan’’ for executing the 2010 Census, in- warning. lems surfacing today were not only

VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:36 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.061 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE June 26, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6237 predicted many times in the past few ported that: ‘‘The bureau did not begin In March 2008, Representative CARO- years, but were documented publicly in detailed budgeting for a nonsampling- LYN MALONEY called the management numerous congressional hearings. A based census until after the Supreme of the 2010 Census a ‘‘mess’’ and said vote to waive the rules on emergency Court ruled that the Census Act pro- that ‘‘what we’re facing is a statistical spending in this situation is a vote to hibited the use of statistical sam- Katrina.’’ In April 2008, upon hearing render the emergency spending rules pling.’’ Thus, poor planning and mis- that the Census Bureau decided to meaningless. A vote to waive the rules management forced the Census Bureau abandon the handheld computers, she is also a vote to reward incompetent to request an additional $2.6 billion said: ‘‘It brings little satisfaction to management at the Census Bureau de- from Congress during the final year of have been right about this, but we’ve spite its ignoring years of repeated preparations. said since last year the Census was in warnings that problems were on the Congress was faced with the decision real peril.’’ horizon. to either cut $2.6 billion from existing Representative HENRY WAXMAN, In order to qualify for emergency programs or designate the new funding Chairman of the House Oversight and funding, it must be proved that funding as an emergency. Not surprisingly, Government Reform Committee, for the 2010 Census is ‘‘temporary in Congress chose to designate the $2.6 blamed the cost overruns on ‘‘serious nature.’’ The rule is intended to ensure billion as an emergency since it al- mismanagement’’ and said that ‘‘the that needs that are long-standing or lowed the funding to get around the costly decision to return to a paper ongoing do not get funding under emer- budget rules that would have otherwise census was avoidable.’’ gency rules. Rather, only those needs required spending cuts. It is the worst At a hearing in March, Senator TOM that are short-lived can qualify as an kept secret in Washington that emer- CARPER, Chairman of the sub- emergency. gency spending is nothing more than a committee with jurisdiction over the No activity of the U.S. Government ploy by politicians to bust through the Census Bureau, said that ‘‘the Census has existed for a longer period of time budget caps and spend more money. Al- Bureau did not heed the warnings com- nor has an activity of the government though Members of Congress were ing from GAO and others that their been as predictable as the decennial spared from having to make any dif- handheld project was troubled.’’ census. Article 1, Section 2 of the Con- ficult choices, taxpayers were not so Representative LACY CLAY, who stitution states that ‘‘The actual Enu- lucky. chairs the House Census Subcommittee meration shall be made within three Today, for the 2010 Census, Congress said, ‘‘This appalling failure of man- Years after the first Meeting of the is once again facing a decision about agement oversight by both the Census Congress of the United States, and how to come up with $3 billion. And, Bureau and Harris Interactive, com- within every subsequent Term of ten once again it wants to pay for it on the bined with ridiculous cost overruns is Years, in such Manner as they shall by backs of the American people. Manage- totally unacceptable.’’ Representative Law direct.’’ With these words, the ment at the Census Bureau is smart CLAY also said: ‘‘[Harris] is delivering Founding Fathers established that a enough to know that Congress will half of the hand-held computers that census of the entire population would never hold the agency accountable for the Census Bureau originally ordered. be taken every ten years in perpetuity. its mismanagement of taxpayer dol- The machines can’t do what we wanted Since the birth of the Nation more lars, as evidenced by the $210 million in them to do. And yet, Harris expects the than 230 years ago, a census has been this bill. Congress should begin holding taxpayers to provide more than $700 taken every 10 years—few things in the Census Bureau accountable today million more to pay for their failures. government are as permanent as the and sustain the point of order against That is outrageous.’’ emergency funding for the census in census. Senator JOE LIEBERMAN said that ‘‘it It should come as a surprise to no this bill. is inexcusable that the Census Bureau one that there will be a census in 2010, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE REPEATEDLY must still rely on paper and pencils to least of all to Congress and to the Cen- NOTED THAT CENSUS PROBLEMS WERE A FAIL- perform its most important function.’’ URE OF MANAGEMENT, NOT THE RESULT OF AN Senator SUSAN COLLINS, in discussing sus Bureau. $210 million in emergency EMERGENCY spending should not be included in a By providing $210 million to the Cen- the management of the census, said bill that is intended only for measures sus Bureau, Congress is disregarding that ‘‘there is little to applaud and that are ‘‘not permanent’’ or ‘‘tem- the findings of its own committees. much to be concerned about.’’ Senator porary.’’ There have been no fewer than five COLLINS went to blame agency manage- The Census Bureau finds itself today committee hearings in the past 3 ment for a ‘‘combination of wishful as the recipient of a bailout from Con- months detailing the long-standing thinking, lax management, and tunnel gress because it has been taught by failures of the Census Bureau to prop- vision.’’ past experience to expect a bailout erly manage the 2010 Census. Even the Secretary of Commerce, whenever times get tough. The exam- Several members of Congress from Carlos Gutierrez, who is ultimately re- ple of the 2000 Census provides an illus- both parties and both houses have com- sponsible for the 2010 Census, said that tration of how the expectation of a mented over the past several months the problems with the handheld com- congressional bailout drives up costs about the poor management of the Cen- puters are not the result of an unex- because it decreases concerns about sus Bureau and the shocking indiffer- pected emergency, but is ‘‘a manage- getting the best price. ence it showed towards those that tried ment problem.’’ By the late 1990s, census planners to raise a warning. The following state- THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS A POOR TRACK RECORD were operating under the assumption ments have been made in recent OF USING TAXPAYER MONEY that the 2000 Census would cost $4 bil- months by various Members of Con- The Census Bureau has one of the lion—then the most expensive of all gress. worst track records of any federal time. At the time, the Census Bureau On March 6, the Chairman of the Sen- agency when it comes to spending tax- was planning to use a method of data ate Commerce, Justice and State Ap- payer money. Numerous accounts can collection known as ‘‘sampling’’ during propriations Subcommittee, Senator be given to highlight the way in which the 2000 Census. On January 25, 1999, BARBARA MIKULSKI, said that it was the Census Bureau wastes money only 15 months before Census Day 2000, ‘‘shocking’’ that the 2010 Census will be through negligence, mismanagement the Supreme Court ruled that sampling done the same way ‘‘we’ve been doing and incompetence. The $210 million in was not allowable, and that the Census censuses for 200 years.’’ Senator MIKUL- emergency funding in the bill is noth- Bureau would have to redesign the 2000 SKI also stated that ‘‘a paper census in ing more than rewarding bad behavior Census. America borders on a scandal.’’ with more money and no account- Although the issue was highly con- On June 18th, the ranking member of ability. troversial, and subject to a ruling by the CJS Subcommittee, Senator RICH- Consider the following ways in which the Supreme Court, the Census Bureau ARD SHELBY, said that the $3 billion the Census Bureau has done a poor job failed to make any plans whatsoever in cost overrun is the result of ‘‘gross of controlling the cost of the census: the event that sampling would not be mismanagement of the Census Bureau The cost of the census has doubled allowed. In September 1999, GAO re- in acquiring hand held computers.’’ every time it has been taken since 1970.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:36 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.064 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE S6238 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 In 1970, it cost only $248 million to constitutional duties to pass appropria- Secretary Gutierrez says there is count 200,000 American citizens, but in tions bills on time. plenty of money in the Commerce De- 2010, it will cost nearly $15 billion to Also, as I already stated earlier, it is partment to cover this cost, and I am count 300,000 citizens—that means it not clear what this money would actu- going to raise a point of order that it is will cost 60 times more to count 11⁄2 ally be used for and so it is impossible not an emergency. There is plenty of times as many people. In the 1990 Cen- to say it is essential. It is incompre- money there, and we are sending ex- sus it cost $10 per person to count the hensible why the Census Bureau needs actly the wrong message to every other population—in the 2010 Census, it will an extra $210 million at this point when agency in this Government by allowing cost at least $47 per person. it is planning to spend an overall an agency that is going to do the cen- More recently, the Census Bureau amount of $14.5 billion on the 2010 Cen- sus the same way it did 200 years ago awarded a $600 million cost-plus con- sus. That is more than twice as much because of incompetency. We are going tract to the Harris Corporation for the as the cost of the 2000 Census that was to give them $200 million on an emer- development of handheld computers, done the exact same way—by pencil gency basis, and we are going to charge which has skyrocketed above the origi- and paper. the next generation because we are not nal plan. The handheld computers were There are plenty of deficit-neutral going to pay for it. We are going to supposed to perform a number of func- options available to provide funding for borrow the money, and we are going to tions, including two functions called the 2010 Census, including transferring embrace and endorse incompetence. Address Canvassing and Non-Response money already available within the De- So, Mr. President, I raise a point of Follow Up: partment of Commerce. Or, Congress order, pursuant to section 204(a)(5) of Address Canvassing is the process of could cut or eliminate less important the fiscal year 2008 budget resolution, plotting every American household programs to free up money for the 2010 S. Con. Res. 21, against the emergency with a GPS coordinate. Census. designation of $200 million for the Cen- Non-Response Follow Up is the proc- Furthermore, some may argue that sus Bureau in the message in the pend- ess of collecting information door-to- the concerns about poor management ing amendment, and I ask for the yeas door from households that don’t re- at the Census Bureau can be dealt with and nays. spond to the census by mail. another time—the most important The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Due to mismanagement by the Cen- thing is getting the 2010 Census done ator from Washington is recognized. sus Bureau, the project has not only right and without delay. Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the been severely scaled back but the cost I would respond by noting that this Senator from Oklahoma has raised a of the contract will likely double. In country is always in the middle of point of order, and I want all our col- April, the Secretary of Commerce de- preparations for the next decennial leagues to know that his point of order cided to eliminate Non-Response Fol- census—if management concerns are lies against the emergency designa- low Up from the list of functions that always pushed back then they will tions for the census funding, as he has the handheld computer would perform, never be addressed. Providing a bailout just talked about, but in reality his leaving only Address Canvassing. The for the Census Bureau now is tanta- point of order lies against all the emer- Harris Corporation estimated that the mount to excusing the poor manage- gency spending in this amendment, in- impact of that decision so close to the ment that has prevailed at the agency cluding the veterans education funding 2010 Census would increase the cost of for the better part of a decade. and the extension of unemployment the contract from approximately $600 Report after report by the GAO and benefits, and against the disaster re- million to $1.3 billion—an overrun of the Inspector General have called upon lief. $700 million to be funded by taxpayers. the Census Bureau to improve its poor So I urge our colleagues to vote with According to estimates based on the management of the 2010 Census. Each us on the point of order. It has already new contract, the unit cost for each of those reports and warnings were ig- been part of the agreement. I ask for handheld computer would be $600 for a nored because, ultimately, the agency the yeas and nays on the motion. device that can do nothing more than knew that Congress didn’t care about The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under plot homes on a map using GPS coordi- accountability. Congress should deal the previous order, the motion to waive nates. This means that the Census Bu- with the management concerns imme- the Budget Act is considered made. reau will pay $600 for a custom-made diately and start by withholding the Is there a sufficient second? There is handheld device that can do less than bailout money in this bill. a sufficient second. Mr. President, this is a simple point an off-the-shelf BlackBerry that costs The question is on agreeing to the of order, but it has tremendous rami- $200 or an iPhone that costs $275. motion. One of the most glaring examples of fications on whether we are going to ef- The clerk will call the roll. wasted money at the Census Bureau is fectively oversight the rest of the exec- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the seen in the recent cost overrun for a utive agencies. Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. KEN- technology help-desk planned for cen- Three and a half years ago, TOM CAR- NEDY) is necessarily absent. sus takers going door-to-door in 2010. PER and I started oversight hearings on Mr. KYL. The following Senator is The original for the help desk—before the census. At that time, GAO said: necessarily absent: the Senator from the decision was made to abandon tech- They are not going to make it. They Arizona (Mr. MCCAIN). nology for a paper census—was $36 mil- are not doing what they need to do. It The result was announced—yeas 77, lion. After the decision to use paper was totally ignored, both by the Census nays 21, as follows: only, the estimated cost of the tech- Bureau as well as the Department of nology help desk increased to $217 mil- Commerce. Now we find that even [Rollcall Vote No. 161 Leg.] lion. though they have had two contracts— YEAS—77 Some will argue that without imme- one with Lockheed and one with an- Akaka Coleman Lautenberg diate emergency funding, the Census other company—to put the census on- Alexander Collins Leahy Baucus Cornyn Levin Bureau will not be able to pull off the line—we are going to be the only mod- Bayh Dodd Lieberman 2010 Census, putting apportionment ern country that doesn’t have the cen- Bennett Dole Lincoln and important programs in jeopardy. sus online—they have totally withheld, Biden Domenici Lugar This is not true. The next fiscal year totally canceled that contract, and to- Bingaman Dorgan Martinez Bond Durbin McCaskill is only 3 months away and any funding tally didn’t perform. The other, to do Boxer Feingold McConnell that the Census Bureau needs can be with electronic data collection, is now Brown Feinstein Menendez provided then. There is no compelling a flop, and they admit the reason it is Brownback Hagel Mikulski Bunning Harkin Murkowski argument that emergency deficit a flop is because the Census Bureau did Byrd Hutchison Murray spending on the 2010 Census is needed not communicate with the contractor. Cantwell Inouye Nelson (FL) immediately. Perhaps the reason why In this bill is $210 million to say: Oh, Cardin Johnson Nelson (NE) $210 million is being included is be- we are sorry. We are going to give you Carper Kerry Obama Casey Klobuchar Pryor cause the Congress—like the Census more money because you didn’t do it Clinton Kohl Reed (RI) Bureau—is once again mismanaging its well. Cochran Landrieu Reid (NV)

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:25 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.067 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE June 26, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6239 Roberts Snowe Vitter He wants money for roads in Ramadi This amendment includes $5 million to Rockefeller Specter Warner but not Richmond. The President increase FBI investigations, and the Salazar Stabenow Webb Sanders Stevens Whitehouse wants money for Mosul but not Min- committee will continue to hold hear- Schumer Sununu Wicker neapolis. He wants to reconstruct ings on fraud and waste in Iraq. Shelby Tester Wyden but not Baltimore or Bir- Despite the positive measures for Smith Thune mingham. struggling Americans, our veterans, NAYS—21 Congress listened to the President. and their families included in this Allard Craig Gregg We had hearings on his request, and we amendment, I deeply regret that this Barrasso Crapo Hatch concluded that, notwithstanding his legislation will go to President Bush Burr DeMint Inhofe without the necessary checks to ensure Chambliss Ensign Isakson ill-considered veto threat, we would in- Coburn Enzi Kyl clude funding to help our citizens here that the war in Iraq is not open-ended. Conrad Graham Sessions at home. The majority of the American people Corker Grassley Voinovich The amendment that is before the have come to see this war as a costly NOT VOTING—2 Senate extends unemployment benefits mistake that needs to be brought to a Kennedy McCain for 13 weeks. Over the past year, the close. This legislation brings us no number of unemployed workers in this closer to that goal. The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this However, with this legislation, we vote, the yeas are 77, the nays are 21. country has grown by 1.6 million to a level of 8.5 million people. will once again take care of our troops. Three-fifths of the Senators duly cho- We also invest in America here at sen and sworn having voted in the af- I am pleased that the amendment in- cludes critical funding for our vet- home. firmative, the motion is agreed to. There is more to do. I am dis- erans. I commend Senator WEBB and Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I appointed that the White House Senator WARNER for their leadership in move to reconsider the vote. blocked our efforts to add funding to drafting legislation that provides our Mr. LAUTENBERG. I move to lay help the Gulf States recover from Hur- veterans with an education benefit that motion on the table. ricane Katrina, to provide additional The motion to lay on the table was that they have earned. We also have a moratorium on six low-income home energy assistance, agreed to. and to invest in our infrastructure. I burdensome Medicaid regulations. The Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, 1 year ago, have consulted with the leadership, and President wanted to pass billions of Congress sent the President a war next month, the committee will con- dollars of expenses on to the States for funding supplemental that included sider a second supplemental to deal rehabilitation services and school- clear direction to bring our troops with the Midwest floods, Hurricane home by December of 2007. The Presi- based services for children with special Katrina, and to make critical invest- dent chose to veto that bill. If he had needs. Congress said no. ments in America. signed that bill, most of our troops We have included $2.65 billion for dis- I urge adoption of the amendment. would be home today. aster assistance to help the victims of I ask unanimous consent that an ex- Instead of bringing our troops home, the Midwest floods, as well as other planatory statement be printed in the the President decided to increase our disasters that have happened over the RECORD. commitment of U.S. troops and treas- last year for which the President There being no objection, the mate- ure to a war that has now entered its sought no additional funding. We have rial was ordered to be printed in the sixth year. Over 4,100 U.S. servicemem- added funding for the Food and Drug RECORD, as follows: bers have died. Over 30,000 U.S. service- Administration to help protect our EXPLANATORY STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY members have been wounded. This food and drug supplies. We also modi- SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD, CHAIRMAN OF year, the President asked Congress to fied the President’s request for the war THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIA- approve another $178 billion for this by adding $160 million to his request TIONS, REGARDING THE HOUSE AMENDMENT TO THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE endless war. With enactment of this for funding DOD efforts in . We must never forget that those who AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 TO THE SENATE supplemental, Congress will have ap- AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2642 attacked us on 9/11 trained in Afghani- proved over $656 billion for the war in Following is an explanation of the fiscal Iraq. stan, not Iraq. We also include lan- year 2008 supplemental appropriations and Once again, the President threw guage mandating that Iraq match, dol- fiscal year 2009 appropriations in the further down the gauntlet and said he would lar for dollar, further U.S. contribu- amendment of the House to Senate amend- veto the supplemental bill if Congress tions to reconstructing Iraq. ment numbered 2 to House amendment num- added funding for anything other than This year, the Appropriations Com- bered 2 to the amendment of the Senate to the war. He made this demand at a mittee has held, and will continue to H.R. 2642, the Military Construction and Vet- hold, oversight hearings looking at erans Affairs and Related Agencies Appro- time when the U.S. economy is in trou- priations Act, 2008, including disclosure of ble. waste, fraud and corruption in Iraq. congressionally directed spending items as Under the President’s failed fiscal Unchecked corruption in Iraq is pro- defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules leadership, deficits and debt are on the viding much of the funding for the very of the Senate. rise. Unemployment is on the rise, with enemy our servicemen and women are The further House amendment provides the largest 1 month increase in 20 fighting—and President Bush has dem- that, in lieu of the matter proposed to be in- onstrated either unwillingness or an serted by the Senate, language be inserted years. Economic growth came to a vir- providing supplemental appropriations for tual halt at the end of last year. Food inability to check the flow of funds and military construction, international affairs, and fuel costs are dramatically climb- weapons from these sources to the disaster assistance, and other security-re- ing. Mr. President, 8.8 million home enemy. This amendment requires the lated and domestic needs, as well as lan- owners have mortgages that exceed the Secretary of State to develop a com- guage providing for accountability in con- value of their homes, and foreclosures prehensive anticorruption strategy and tracting, improved veterans education bene- have increased 57 percent. submit to Congress the identities of fits, temporary extended unemployment Iraqi officials believed to have com- compensation, and a moratorium on certain While saying no to funds for Amer- Medicaid regulations. The amendment also ica, the President wanted this Congress mitted corrupt acts. I am also pleased strikes lines 1 through 3 on page 60 of the to approve more funding to reconstruct that this legislation continues to pro- Senate engrossed amendment of September Iraq. We have already approved $45 bil- vide funding, funding not requested by 6, 2007. lion for reconstruction projects in Iraq. President Bush, for the Special Inspec- Unless otherwise noted, all appropriations Despite the fact that the Iraqi govern- tor General for Iraqi Reconstruction. in the amendment are designated as emer- As a result of our recent hearings on gency requirements and necessary to meet ment is running a huge surplus due to emergency needs pursuant to section 204(a) excess oil revenues, the President fraud and corruption in Iraq, we of S. Con. Res. 21 and section 301(b)(2) of S. asked this Congress to spend another $3 learned that there are only five FBI Con. Res. 70, the congressional budget reso- billion of American taxpayer dollars on agents assigned to investigate fraud in lutions for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. reconstructing Iraq. Iraq and Afghanistan. For this admin- NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY LEGISLATION The President wants money to build istration, look no evil, see no evil. The congressional budget resolution (S. schools in Sadr City but not in Seattle. Well, it is time to take our blinders off. Con. Res. 21) agreed to by Congress for fiscal

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:25 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.049 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE S6240 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 year 2008 includes a provision relating to the through funds made available to the Depart- CHAPTER 3—MILITARY CONSTRUCTION notification of emergency spending. This ments of State or Defense. AND VETERANS AFFAIRS provision requires a statement of how the SALARIES AND EXPENSES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE emergency provisions contained in the bill ATTORNEYS Iraq.—The Administration’s request has meet the criteria for emergency spending as The amended bill includes $5,000,000 for the been reviewed for military construction in identified in the budget resolution. The U.S. Attorneys for extraordinary litigation Iraq to ensure that the recommended amendment contains emergency funding for expenses associated with terrorism prosecu- projects are consistent with contingency fiscal year 2008 for overseas deployments and tions in the United States. other activities, for hurricane recovery in construction standards. The establishment the gulf coast region, for the 2008 Midwest UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE of permanent bases in Iraq is not supported, floods, and other natural disasters, and for SALARIES AND EXPENSES and the amended bill does not include any other needs. The funding is related to unan- The amended bill includes $28,621,000 for funds to establish any such base, or convert ticipated needs and is for situations that are the U.S. Marshals Service. Within this fund- any base in Iraq from a temporary to perma- sudden, urgent, and unforeseen, specifically ing level is $7,951,000 to provide security at nent status. The amended bill includes lan- the global war on terror, the hurricanes of high-threat terrorist trials in the United guage prohibiting the obligation or expendi- 2005, the ongoing floods in the Midwest and States and $3,700,000 to improve court and ture of funds for Iraq construction projects other natural disasters, and rising unem- witness security in Afghanistan. provided under Military Construction, Army, and Military Construction, Air Force, until ployment. The amendment also funds the FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION costs of ongoing military deployments and the Secretary of Defense certifies that none SALARIES AND EXPENSES other requirements through the beginning of the funds are to be used for the purpose of months of the next fiscal year. These needs The amended bill provides $106,122,000 for providing facilities for permanent basing of meet the criteria for emergency funding. the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). U.S. military personnel in Iraq. The Sec- This funding level includes $101,122,000 for TITLE I—MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, retary of Defense is further directed to pro- operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and for VETERANS AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL vide to the Committees on Appropriations of enhanced counterterrorism activities and AFFAIRS, AND OTHER SECURITY-RE- both Houses of Congress, no later than 30 $5,000,000 to increase the FBI’s capacity to LATED MATTERS days after enactment of this act, an updated investigate fraudulent contracts in Iraq and Master Plan for U.S. basing in Iraq, includ- CHAPTER 1—AGRICULTURE Afghanistan. The FBI is directed to provide ing an inventory of installations that have DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE the House and Senate Committees on Appro- been closed; those that are scheduled to FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE priations with a detailed plan for the obliga- close, and the timeline for their closure; and tion of these funds no later than 30 days PUBLIC LAW 480 TITLE II GRANTS a finite list of potential enduring locations after the enactment of this Act and to up- describing the mission, military construc- The amended bill provides a total of date this plan on a quarterly basis with ac- tion requirements, and projected population $850,000,000 to remain available until ex- tual obligations. of these locations. pended for Public Law 480 Title II Grants for The amended bill also provides $82,600,000 Child Development Centers.—The amended fiscal year 2008. The amended bill provides in bridge funding for the FBI to maintain the $350,000,000, as requested, for the urgent hu- bill recommends a total of $210,258,000 to de- operations described above into fiscal year sign and build twenty new child development manitarian needs identified by the adminis- 2009. tration. Further, the amended bill provides centers for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION an additional $500,000,000 for unanticipated and Air Force. The Department should be cost increases for food and transportation to SALARIES AND EXPENSES commended for following the lead of Con- be made available immediately. The amended bill includes $29,861,000 for gress by requesting funds for additional child In addition, because the need for urgent the Drug Enforcement Administration to development centers. humanitarian food assistance and continuing further its narco-terrorism initiative and Op- Army Barracks Improvements.—The deplor- volatility of food and transportation costs eration Breakthrough; to conduct financial able conditions that have recently been un- are expected to continue into fiscal year investigations and to support intelligence covered in some permanent party Army bar- 2009, the amended bill provides a total of activities, such as signals intelligence, to as- racks, including those which house soldiers $395,000,000, as requested, to be made avail- sist the Government of Afghanistan’s returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghani- able beginning October 1, 2008. counter-narcotics and narco-terrorism pro- stan, have raised numerous concerns about CHAPTER 2—JUSTICE grams; and to purchase a helicopter for For- the adequacy of living conditions for mili- eign-deployed Advisory Support Team trans- tary personnel. The Army created a perma- DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE portation. nent party barracks modernization program OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND in 1994 to eliminate inadequate barracks. The amended bill includes $4,000,000 for the EXPLOSIVES However, this program is not projected to be completely funded until 2013. Given this Office of Inspector General. The Inspector SALARIES AND EXPENSES General is directed to continue its audit and timeline, it is unacceptable that the Army oversight activities of the Federal Bureau of The amended bill includes $4,000,000 for the has allowed some of its existing permanent Investigation’s use of National Security Let- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and party barracks to fall into disrepair. While ters (NSLs) and orders for business records, Explosives for necessary costs of operations many of the repairs and upgrades to existing pursuant to Section 215 of the USA PA- in Iraq. barracks can be accomplished with TRIOT Act. FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM Sustainment, Restoration, and Moderniza- tion (SRM) funds, there is a need for addi- LEGAL ACTIVITIES SALARIES AND EXPENSES The amended bill provides $9,100,000 for the tional military construction funds to expe- SALARIES AND EXPENSES, GENERAL LEGAL dite barracks replacements. The amended ACTIVITIES Bureau of Prisons to monitor communica- tions of incarcerated terrorists, collect intel- bill includes a total of $200,000,000 for the The amended bill includes $1,648,000 for ligence, and disseminate relevant informa- Army to accelerate the construction of new General Legal Activities for the Criminal Di- tion to other Federal law enforcement agen- barracks, or to provide major renovations to vision to provide litigation support services cies. existing barracks. The funding is provided to the Special Inspector General for Iraq Re- subject to the development of an expenditure construction for its ongoing investigations GENERAL PROVISION, THIS CHAPTER plan to be submitted to the Committees on and cases involving corruption in the recon- The amended bill includes a provision au- Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. struction of Iraq. The amended bill does not thorizing the use of funds appropriated in include funding requested to create Iraq and this chapter, or available by the transfer of MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY Afghanistan support units within General funds in this chapter, for activities pursuant The amended bill recommends $1,108,200,000 Legal Activities, Criminal Division. These to section 504 of the National Security Act of for Military Construction, Army. The funds worthy activities should be supported 1947. are provided as follows: [In thousands of dollars]

Location Protect description Request Recommendation

AK: Fort Wainwright ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 17,000 17,000 CA: Fort Irwin ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 11,800 11,800 CO: Fort Carson ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 8,400 8,400 CO: Fort Carson ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 8,100 8,100 GA: Fort Gordon ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 7,800 7,800 GA: Fort Stewart ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 6,000 6,000 HI: Schofield Barracks ...... Child Development Center ...... 12,500 12,500 KS: Fort Riley ...... Transitioning Warrior Support Complex ...... 50,000 50,000 KY: Fort Campbell ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 9,900 9,900 KY: Fort Campbell ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 7,400 7,400 KY: Fort ...... Knox Child Development Center ...... 7,400 7,400

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:30 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.052 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE June 26, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6241 [In thousands of dollars]

Location Protect description Request Recommendation

LA: Fort Polk ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 4,900 4,900 MO: Fort Leonard Wood ...... Starbase Complex 6, Phase 1 ...... 50,000 NC: Fort Bragg ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 8,500 8,500 NY: Fort Drum ...... Warrior in Transition Facilities ...... 38,000 38,000 OK: Fort Sill ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 9,000 9,000 TX: Fort Bliss ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 5,700 5,700 TX: Fort Bliss ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 5,900 5,900 TX: Fort Bliss ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 5,700 5,700 TX: Fort Hood ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 7,200 7,200 TX: Fort Hood ...... Warrior In Transition Unit Ops Facilities ...... 9,100 9,100 TX: Fort Sam Houston ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 7,000 7,000 VA: Fort Lee ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 7,400 7,400 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Administrative Building 1 ...... 13,800 13,800 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Aircraft Maintenance Hangar ...... 5,100 5,100 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Ammunition Supply Point ...... 62,000 62,000 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Bulk Fuel Storage and Supply, Phase 3 ...... 23,000 23,000 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Bulk Fuel Storage and Supply, Phase 4 ...... 21,000 21,000 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... New Roads ...... 27,000 27,000 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Power Plant ...... 41,000 41,000 Afghanistan: Ghazni ...... Rotary Wing Parking ...... 5,000 5,000 Afghanistan: ...... Consolidated Compound ...... 36,000 36,000 Afghanistan: Various Locations ...... Counter IED Road—Route Alaska ...... 16,500 16,500 Afghanistan: Various Locations ...... Counter IED Road—Route Connecticut ...... 54,000 54,000 Iraq: AI Asad AB ...... Hot Cargo Ramp ...... 18,500 18,500 Iraq: AI Asad AB ...... Landfill ...... 3,100 3,100 Iraq: AI Asad AB ...... Power Plant ...... 40,000 ...... Iraq: AI Asad AB ...... South Airfield Apron (India Ramp) ...... 28,000 28,000 Iraq: AI Asad AB ...... Urban Bypass Road ...... 43,000 ...... Iraq: Baghdad IAP ...... Water Supply, Treatment & Storage Ph III ...... 13,000 13,000 Iraq: Camp Adder ...... Convoy Support Center Relocation, Phase II ...... 39,000 39,000 Iraq: Camp Adder ...... Multi-Class Storage Warehouse ...... 17,000 ...... Iraq: Camp Adder ...... POL Storage Area ...... 10,000 10,000 Iraq: Camp Adder ...... Power Plant ...... 39,000 ...... Iraq: Camp Adder ...... Wastewater Treatment & Collection System ...... 9,800 9,800 Iraq: Camp Anaconda ...... Hazardous Waste Incinerator ...... 4,300 4,300 Iraq: Camp Anaconda ...... Landfill ...... 6,200 6,200 Iraq: Camp Anaconda ...... Power Plant ...... 39,000 ...... Iraq: Camp Constitution ...... Juenile TIFRIC ...... 11,700 11,700 Iraq: Camp Cropper ...... Brick Factory ...... 9,500 ...... Iraq: Camp Marez ...... Landfill ...... 880 880 Iraq: Camp Ramadi ...... Landfill ...... 880 880 Iraq: Camp Speicher ...... Aviation Navigation Facilities ...... 13,400 13,400 Iraq: Camp Speicher ...... Landfill ...... 5,900 5,900 Iraq: Camp Speicher ...... Military Control Point ...... 5,800 5,800 Iraq: Camp Speicher ...... Power Plant ...... 39,000 ...... Iraq: Camp Speicher ...... Rotary Wing Parking Apron ...... 49,000 ...... Iraq: Camp Taqqadum ...... Landfill ...... 880 880 Iraq: Camp Warrior ...... Landfill ...... 880 880 Iraq: Fallujah ...... Landfill ...... 880 880 Iraq: Mosul ...... Urban Bypass Road ...... 43,000 ...... Iraq: Qayyarah West ...... North Entry Control Point ...... 11,400 11,400 Iraq: Qayyarah West ...... Perimeter Security Upgrade ...... 14,600 14,600 Iraq: Qayyarah West ...... Power Plant ...... 26,000 ...... Iraq: Scania ...... Entry Control Point ...... 5,000 5,000 Iraq: Scania ...... Water Storage Tanks ...... 9,200 9,200 Iraq: Victory Base ...... Landfill ...... 6,200 6,000 Iraq: Victory Base ...... Level 3 Hospital ...... 13,400 13,400 Iraq: Victory Base ...... Wastewater Treatment & Collection System ...... 9,800 9,800 Iraq: Victory Base ...... Water Treatment &. Storage Phase II ...... 18,000 18,000 Iraq: Various Locations ...... Facilities Replacement ...... 72,000 ...... Iraq: Various Locations ...... Overhead Cover—eGlass ...... 135,000 135,000 Kuwait: Camp Arifjan ...... Communication Center ...... 30,000 30,000 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (GWOT) ...... 64,200 52,800 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (WIT) ...... 14,600 14,600 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (COG) 1 ...... 6,000 6,000 Total ...... 1,486,100 1,108,200 1 Requested by the Department of Defense in fiscal year 2008 and/or the March 2008 Adjustments package. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS The amended bill recommends $355,907,000 for Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps. The funds are provided as follows: [In thousands of dollars]

Location Project description Request Recommendation

CA: Camp Pendleton ...... 11th Marine Regiment HQ, Armory, BEQ ...... 34,970 34,970 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... 5th Marine Regiment Addition, San Mateo ...... 10,890 10,890 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... Armory Intelligence Battalion, 16 Area ...... 4,180 4,180 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... Armory, Regiment & Battalion HQ, 53 Area ...... 5,160 5,160 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... BEQ & Mess Hall HQ (13) Area ...... 24,390 24,390 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... EOD Operations Facility ...... 13,090 13,090 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... ISR Camp—Intelligence Battalion ...... 1,114 1,114 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 9,270 9,270 CA: Camp Pendleton ...... Military Police Company Facilities ...... 8,240 8,240 CA: Twentynine Palms ...... Regimental Combat Team HQ Facility ...... 4,440 4,440 CA: China Lake NAWS ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 7,210 7,210 CA: Point Mugu ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 7,250 7,250 CA: San Diego ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 17,930 17,930 CA: Twentynine Palms ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 11,250 11,250 FL: Whiting Field NAS ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 780 780 MS: Gulfport NCBC ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 6,570 6,570 NC: Camp Lejeune ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 16,000 16,000 NC: Camp Lejeune ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 11,980 11,980 NC: Camp Lejeune ...... Maintenance/Operations Complex 2/9...... 43,340 43,340 SC: Parris Island MCRD ...... Recruit Barracks ...... 25,360 VA: Yorktown NWS ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 8,070 8,070 Djibouti: Camp Lemonier ...... CJTF–HOA HQ Facility ...... 29,710 ...... Djibouti: Camp Lemonier ...... Dining Facility ...... 20,780 20,780 Djibouti: Camp Lemonier ...... Fuel Farm 1 ...... 4,000 4,000 Djibouti: Camp Lemonier ...... Full Length Taxiway 1 ...... 15,490 15,490 Djibouti: Camp Lemonier ...... Network Infrastructure Expansion ...... 6,270 6,270 Djibouti: Camp Lemonier ...... Water Production ...... 19,140 19,140 Djibouti: Camp Lemonier ...... Western Taxiway 1 ...... 2,900 2,900 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (GTF) ...... 7,491 7,491 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (GWOT) ...... 4,300 4,300 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (CDC) 1 ...... 1,101 1,101 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (JIEDDO) 1 ...... 2,951 2,951 Total ...... 360,257 355,907 1 Requested by the Department of Defense in fiscal year 2008 and/or the March 2008 Adjustments package.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:30 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 8634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.052 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE S6242 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Battle Courses.—The amended bill recommends $65,331,000 to construct facilities for enhanced counter-improvised explosive device training in furtherance of the goals of the Joint IED Defeat Organization. These funds address a tech- nical correction in the Administration’s fiscal year 2008 Global War on Terror budget request and are offset by a rescission in title IX. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE The amended bill recommends $399,627,000 for Military Construction, Air Force. The funds are provided as follows: [In thousands of dollars]

Location Project description Request Recommendation

CA: Beale AFB ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 17,600 17,600 FL: Eglin AFB ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 11,000 11,000 NJ: McGuire AFB ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses 1 ...... 6,200 6,200 NM: Cannon AFB ...... Child Development Center 1 ...... 8,000 8,000 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... East Side Helo Ramp ...... 44,400 44,400 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... ISR Ramp...... 26,300 26,300 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Parallel Taxiway Phase 2 ...... 21,400 21,400 Afghanistan: Bagram AB ...... Strategic Ramp ...... 43,000 43,000 Iraq: Balad AB ...... Fighter Ramp ...... 11,000 11,000 Iraq: Balad AB ...... Foxtrot Taxiway ...... 12,700 12,700 Iraq: Balad AB ...... Helicopter Maintenance Facilities...... 34,600 34,600 Kyrgyzstan: Manas AB ...... Strategic Ramp ...... 30,300 30,300 Oman: Masirah AB ...... Expeditionary Beddown Site ...... 6,300 6,300 Qatar: AI Udeid AB ...... Facility Replacements ...... 40,000 30,000 Qatar: AI Udeid AB ...... Northwest (CAS) Ramp 1 ...... 60,400 60,400 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (GWOT) ...... 35,000 35,000 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (CDC) 1 ...... 1,427 1,427 Total ...... 409,627 399,627 1 Requested by the Department of Defense in fiscal year 2008 and/or the March 2008 Adjustments package. Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Battle Courses.—The amended bill recommends $6,200,000 to construct facilities for enhanced counter-improvised explosive device training in furtherance of the goals of the Joint IED Defeat Organization. These funds address a tech- nical correction in the Administration’s fiscal year 2008 Global War on Terror budget request and are offset by a rescission in title IX. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE The amended bill recommends $890,921,000 for Military Construction, Defense-Wide. The funds are provided as follows: [In thousands of dollars]

Location Project description Request Recommendation

GA: Fort Benning ...... Hospital Replacement ...... 350,000 KS: Fort Riley ...... Hospital Replacement ...... 404,000 NC: Camp Lejeune ...... Hospital Addition ...... 64,300 TX: Fort Sam Houston ...... Burn Rehabilitation Center ...... 21,000 21,000 Qatar: AI Udeid AB ...... Logistics Storage Warehouse ...... 6,600 6,600 Worldwide: Unspecified ...... Planning and Design (MTF) ...... 45,021 Total ...... 27,600 890,921

Medical Treatment Facilities Construction.— the fact that several installations are adding services, provide a cost estimate for each There is a great concern with the large back- thousands of personnel and dependents due project, supply data on the current state of log of needed recapitalization for medical to Base Realignment and Closure, the reloca- facilities and the projected change in de- treatment facilities for military service tion of units from Europe and Korea to the mand for services due to growth for each lo- members and their families. The current Fu- United States, and the Growing the Force cation on the list, indicate the extent to ture Years Defense Plan (FYDP) for Tricare initiative that will add 92,000 active duty which identified construction requirements Management Activity military construction personnel to the Army and Marine Corps. are programmed in the FYDP, and indicate averages $412,000,000 per year for fiscal years The amended bill therefore recommends the resources required for associated plan- 2009 through 2013, and much of this amount $863,321,000 for additional medical treatment ning and design work. This report shall be facility construction. These funds will pro- is accounted for by medical research facili- submitted to the Committees on Appropria- vide for the Army’s top two priority hospital ties. With the services identifying recapital- tions of both Houses of Congress no later replacement projects in the United States as than December 31, 2008. ization requirements ranging in the several well as a top priority hospital addition for billions of dollars, the current FYDP for the Marine Corps. FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND medical construction is obviously and se- The Department of Defense is also directed MARINE CORPS verely insufficient. The Department’s inven- to develop a comprehensive master plan for tory of medical treatment facilities is rid- medical treatment facilities construction, to The amended bill recommends $11,766,000 dled with aging hospitals, clinics, and other include both recapitalization and new re- for Family Housing Construction, Navy and facilities that do not meet current standards quirements. This plan shall include a com- Marine Corps. The funds are provided as fol- for medical care. Adding to this problem is prehensive priority list of projects for all lows: [In thousands of dollars]

Location Project description Request Recommendation

CA: Camp Pendleton ...... Public-Private Venture, Phase 6B ...... 10,692 10,692 CA: Twentynine Palms ...... Public-Private Venture, Phase 2A ...... 1,074 1,074 Total ...... 11,766 11,766

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS ACCOUNT 2005 DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION The amended bill recommends $396,377,000 The amended bill recommends $1,278,886,000 for Construction, Major Projects to accel- GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES erate and complete planned major construc- for Department of Defense Base Closure Ac- tion of Level I polytrauma rehabilitation count 2005 instead of $1,202,886,000 as re- The amended bill recommends $100,000,000 centers as identified in the Department of quested by the Administration. The amount for General Operating Expenses to imple- Veterans Affairs’ Five Year Capital Plan. provided fully funds the Administration’s re- ment the provisions of title V of this Act. Polytrauma Center Initiative.—The nature of quest to expedite medical facility construc- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS combat in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted tion at Bethesda and Fort Belvoir, and pro- in new patterns of polytraumatic injuries vides an additional $862,976,000 for BRAC 2005 The amended bill recommends $20,000,000 and disabilities requiring specialized inten- implementation. for Information Technology Systems to im- sive rehabilitation and high coordination of plement the provisions of title V of this Act, care. Operating under a national Memo- including support for any personnel in- randum of Agreement with the Department creases within the Veterans Benefits Admin- of Defense (DOD), the Department of Vet- istration. erans Affairs (VA) polytrauma rehabilitation

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:30 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.052 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE June 26, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6243 centers continue to provide treatment and Section 1301 provides an additional appro- lated Programs a total of $5,164,108,000, which care to severely injured combat personnel re- priation for Military Construction, Army for is $90,500,000 above the pending budget re- quiring polytrauma inpatient rehabilitation. the acceleration of barracks improvements quest. The medical care the VA is providing to at Army installations. DEPARTMENT OF STATE military personnel is exceptional. However, Section 1302 relates to the Armed Forces space in the existing polytrauma facilities is Institute of Pathology. ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS dated, with cramped quarters and treatment Section 1303 relates to the collection of DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR PROGRAMS facilities scattered throughout hospital cam- certain debts owed to the Department of puses. These inefficiencies prove to be dif- Veterans Affairs by service members killed The budget request included $2,283,008,000 ficult for patients with mobility issues, com- in a combat zone. for Diplomatic and Consular Programs, of promised immune systems, and those suf- CHAPTER 4—DEPARTMENT OF STATE which $575,000,000 was appropriated in the fering from psychological wounds. In an ef- AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS Department of State, Foreign Operations fort to accelerate the VA’s planned expan- SUBCHAPTER A—SUPPLEMENTAL and Related Programs Appropriations Act, sion and consolidation of polytrauma reha- APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 2008 (Public Law 110–161) for operations and bilitation centers on existing hospital cam- INTRODUCTION security at the United States Embassy in puses as outlined in the Department’s Feb- The budget request totals $5,073,608,000 in Iraq. ruary 2008 Five Year Capital Plan, the emergency supplemental funds for fiscal The amended bill includes an additional amended bill recommends providing year 2008, and the Department of State, For- $1,465,700,000 for Diplomatic and Consular $396,377,000 to fully fund the design and con- eign Operations and Related Programs Ap- Programs, which is $242,308,000 below the struction of these crucial projects. propriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–161) pending request. Within the amount pro- GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS CHAPTER provided $1,473,800,000 for immediate require- vided, $210,400,000 is for worldwide security The amended bill includes the following ments. The amended bill provides for Depart- protection. Funds for diplomatic and con- general provisions for this chapter: ment of State, Foreign Operations and Re- sular programs are to be allocated as follows: DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR PROGRAMS [In thousands of dollars]

Pending Amended Change from Activity request bill request

Iraq Diplomatic Operations ...... 1,545,608 1,150,000 ¥395,608 Afghanistan—Operations and Worldwide Security Protection ...... 162,400 200,200 ∂37,800 —Operations ...... 7,500 ∂7,500 Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative ...... 1,000 ∂1,000 Worldwide Security Protection ...... 48,000 ∂48,000 Civilian Workforce Initiative ...... 55,000 ∂55,000 Public Diplomacy ...... 4,000 ∂4,000 Total, Diplomatic and Consular Programs ...... 1,708,008 1,465,700 ¥242,308

Afghanistan.—Within the total, the amend- tion of USAID, should be decreased to ac- other embassy construction projects world- ed bill includes $200,200,000, which is commodate all personnel within the NEC and wide. $37,800,000 above the request, for necessary any improvements can be made with pre- There is a concern that private security expenses for diplomatic and security oper- viously appropriated funds. USAID will play contractors have been utilized without the ations in Afghanistan. Of this amount, a critical role in assisting the Government of necessary authority, oversight, or account- $162,400,000 is for enhanced security oper- Iraq in effectively allocating its budgetary ability. The Department of State is directed ations, including additional high threat pro- resources. to provide a report to the Committees on Ap- tection teams, increased overhead cover and The additional $43,804,000 requested for fol- propriations not later than 45 days after en- physical security measures, replacement of low-on projects for the NEC in Baghdad is actment of this Act on the implementation armored vehicles, and local guard service. In not included. At least $77,027,000 in prior year status of each of the recommendations of the addition, $19,000,000 is for the establishment funding programmed for follow-on projects is October 2007 report of the Secretary of of a Department of State-managed air trans- available for obligation and these funds State’s Panel on Personal Protective Serv- port capability in Afghanistan for Depart- should be used to provide additional secure ices. The Department of State is encouraged ment of State and United States Agency for housing for a smaller number of personnel. to aggressively review security procedures International Development (USAID) per- None of the funds provided under this and seek the necessary authority to ensure sonnel to manage country programs, provide heading in this Act shall be made available that increased security is achieved with ef- support for medical evacuation, and other se- for follow-on projects, other than the pro- fective oversight and accountability. curity-related operations. Finally, $18,800,000 posed funding for overhead cover. The De- The Secretary of State should take appro- is for support of operations and personnel for partment of State should include a detailed priate steps to ensure that assistance for Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in plan for the use of funds for follow-on Iraq is not provided to or through any indi- Afghanistan. projects as part of the spending plan required vidual, private entity or educational institu- .—Within the total, $1,150,000,000 is for Iraq by this Act. tion that the Secretary knows or has reason the diplomatic and security operations of the Due to an extended accreditation and to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, or en- United States Mission in Iraq, which is verification process and the addition of fol- gages in, terrorist activities. $395,608,000 below the pending request. The low-on projects, occupancy of the NEC of- Pakistan.—The amended bill includes cost of operations of the United States Mis- fices and housing has been delayed. This rig- $7,500,000 for operations, security, and per- sion in Iraq totals $2,141,000,000 for fiscal orous process to address and validate wheth- sonnel engaged in diplomatic activities to year 2008, including $1,150,000,000 provided in promote economic and political development this Act, $575,000,000 provided as bridge fund- er the NEC was constructed to code and con- in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas ing in Public Law 110–161 and $416,000,000 in tract specifications was supported. Now that along the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. funds carried over from prior year appropria- the process is complete, occupancy of the of- tions. Nearly $900,000,000 is requested for sup- fices and housing should proceed without Sudan.—The amended bill includes re- porting security requirements for diplomatic delay in order to provide the maximum pro- sources to support the diplomatic mission in and development personnel in Iraq. tection to United States personnel. Sudan including the United States Special The amended bill includes funding for mis- The rationale for co-location of the De- Envoy for Sudan. sion operations, security, logistics support, partments of State and Defense in the NEC Buying Power Maintenance Account.—The information technology, and operations of is recognized. However, the proposed New Of- amended bill provides authority to transfer PRTs. Congress has provided an additional fice Building and the Interim Office Building funds available in this Act, and in a prior $196,543,000 since fiscal year 2006 for follow-on reconfigurations are projected to delay occu- Act, to the Buying Power Maintenance Ac- facilities requirements identified by the De- pancy of NEC offices by up to one year. count in accordance with section 24 of the partment of State, as follows: extend the pe- Given the difficult security environment in State Department Basic Authorities Act, to rimeter wall; construct a dining facility; Baghdad, this lengthy delay is not accept- manage exchange rate losses in fiscal year construct additional housing; construct a able. The Departments of State and Defense 2008. tactical operations center for Diplomatic Se- are expected to consult with the Committees Civilian Workforce Initiative.—The amended curity; construct a static guard camp; and on Appropriations on options for moving for- bill provides $55,000,000 to increase the civil- construct overhead cover. The actual cost of ward with limited co-location plans in the ian diplomatic capacity of the Department building the New Embassy Compound (NEC) most accelerated, secure, and cost-effective of State to meet the increasing and complex has reached a total of $788,543,000 to date. manner. Any future construction in Iraq demands of diplomacy in the 21st century. The number of permanent and temporary shall be subject to the Capital Security Cost Within the total, $30,000,000 is for the initial personnel assigned to Iraq, with the excep- Sharing Program, in the same manner as all development and deployment of a civilian

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capacity to respond to post-conflict sta- ments at the Nation’s land and sea ports. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL bilization and reconstruction challenges and The Department of State is encouraged to PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES $25,000,000 is to strengthen capabilities of the provide significantly increased outreach to The budget request included $723,600,000 for United States diplomatic corps and promote border communities, including through Contributions for International Peace- broader engagement with the rest of the radio, print media, and additional passport keeping Activities, of which $390,000,000 of world, including expanding training and en- fairs. funds designated as an emergency was pro- hanced interagency collaboration. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL vided in the Department of State, Foreign The amended bill includes funds to replace (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Operations and Related Programs Appropria- Foreign Service positions worldwide, which The amended bill includes an additional tions Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–161) for the were previously moved to Iraq and to in- $9,500,000 for Office of Inspector General United States contribution to the United Na- crease the number of positions participating (OIG) at the Department of State, which is tions/African Union (UN/AU) hybrid peace- in critical needs foreign language training. $9,500,000 above the pending request. Of the keeping mission to Darfur (UNAMID). The Department of State has transferred ap- total, $5,000,000 is to enhance the Department The amended bill includes an additional proximately 300 Foreign Service positions of State Inspector General’s oversight of pro- $373,708,000 for assessed costs to U.N. peace- from embassies around the world to Iraq and grams in Iraq and Afghanistan, $2,500,000 is keeping operations. Within the total under to associated language training, leaving key for operations of the Special Inspector Gen- this heading, not less than $333,600,000 is pro- posts understaffed. These funds are to be eral for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), and vided for UNAMID, which is the same as the used to support United States foreign policy $2,000,000 is for operations of the Special In- request. Additionally, the amended bill in- in priority, understaffed regions, particu- spector General for Afghanistan Reconstruc- cludes $40,108,000 to meet unmet fiscal year larly South and East Asia, the Western tion (SIGAR). 2008 assessed dues for the international Hemisphere, and Africa. The Department of State OIG, USAID OIG, peacekeeping missions to countries such as Funds made available for the civilian sta- SIGIR, and SIGAR each have independent the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Coˆ te bilization initiative are for the Active and oversight responsibilities in Iraq and Af- d’Ivoire, Haiti, Liberia, and Sudan. Standby Response Corps portion of the ini- ghanistan. The inspectors general should, to RELATED AGENCY tiative and to enhance operations of the Of- the maximum extent practicable, coordi- BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS fice of the Coordinator for Reconstruction nate, and de-conflict all activities related to and Stabilization. In addition to the funds oversight of assistance programs for the re- INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING OPERATIONS provided to the Department of State, construction of Iraq and Afghanistan to en- The amended bill includes an additional $25,000,000 is appropriated in this Act under sure that oversight resources are used effec- $2,000,000 for International Broadcasting Op- the heading ‘‘Operating Expenses of the tively and are not unnecessarily duplicative. erations to continue increased broadcasting United States Agency for International De- To ensure continuity of oversight of per- to Tibet. velopment’’ to implement the USAID portion manent United States Missions, the USAID BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE of the civilian stabilization initiative. The OIG and the Department of State OIG are ex- funding request for the Civilian Response pected to actively participate in oversight of FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT Corps will be considered as part of the fiscal all programs funded by this Act and prior INTERNATIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE year 2009 appropriations process and none of Acts making appropriations for the Depart- The budget request included $80,000,000 for the funds provided in this Act are to be used ment of State and foreign operations, in par- International Disaster Assistance. The De- to implement the Civilian Response Corps ticular oversight of diplomatic and develop- partment of State, Foreign Operations and portion of the initiative. ment operations and facilities. Joint over- Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Diplomatic Security-Worldwide Security Pro- sight with SIGIR or SIGAR is strongly en- (Public Law 110–161) provided $110,000,000 for tection.—The amended bill also includes couraged; however once fully staffed, the De- emergency humanitarian requirements. $48,000,000 above the request for worldwide partment of State OIG or the USAID OIG The amended bill includes $220,000,000 for security protection. The amount provided is should, to the maximum extent practicable, International Disaster Assistance, which is available to restore 100 positions in the dip- be designated as the lead for any joint over- $220,000,000 above the pending request. These lomatic security personnel that were redi- sight conducted with SIGIR or SIGAR of funds should be used to respond to urgent hu- rected to Iraq to address urgent security re- funds involving diplomatic operations and manitarian requirements worldwide, includ- quirements for United States personnel else- facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan. ing in Burma, Bangladesh, the People’s Re- where in the world. EMBASSY SECURITY, CONSTRUCTION, AND public of China, and countries severely af- Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.—In- MAINTENANCE fected by the international food crisis. creased demands on the Directorate of De- The amended bill includes an additional USAID is directed to substantially in- fense Trade Controls’ Office of Defense Trade $76,700,000 for urgent embassy security, con- crease food assistance for Haiti to address Controls Licensing have led to delays in li- struction, and maintenance costs, which is critical food shortages and malnutrition. cense processing. The Secretary of State is $83,300,000 below the request. The funds are Preventing hunger and combating poverty in directed to review the workload demands and to construct 300 secure apartments and a se- Haiti should be a USAID priority. staffing needs of the office and report any cure office building, including the necessary As the State Peace and Development Coun- recommendations to the Committees on Ap- perimeter security, utility, and dining facili- cil (SPDC) has compounded the humani- propriations not later than 45 days after en- ties, for United States Mission staff in Af- tarian crisis in Burma by failing to respond actment of this Act. ghanistan. Currently, there are a small num- to the needs of the Burmese people in the Middle East Peace Process.—The security ber of permanent construction apartments wake of Cyclone Nargis and by refusing of- and support requirements for the personnel and the majority of diplomatic and Mission fers of assistance from the international and operations that accompany the Middle personnel live in structures with limited pro- community, the Department of State and East peace process have been, and should tection. Additional funds for this purpose are USAID should seek to avoid providing assist- continue to be, supported through the oper- provided in subchapter B. ance to or through the SPDC. ations funds available in fiscal year 2008. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The amended bill also includes funds under Any additional requirements associated with this heading and the heading ‘‘Development these activities will be considered during the CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Assistance’’ in subchapter B to help address fiscal year 2009 appropriations process. the international food crisis. Programs Public Diplomacy.—The amended bill in- The amended bill includes $66,000,000 for should address both rural and urban food re- cludes $4,000,000 for the Office of Public Di- Contributions to International Organiza- quirements. plomacy and Public Affairs to expand new tions, which is for United States contribu- media for targeted Arabic language tele- tions to the U.N. Assistance Mission in Af- OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE UNITED STATES vision programs for the purpose of fostering ghanistan and the U.N. Assistance Mission in AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT cultural, educational, and professional dia- Iraq. Funding is also provided to meet fiscal The budget request included $61,800,000 for logues through indigenous Arabic language year 2008 assessed dues to organizations Operating Expenses of the United States satellite media. whose missions are critical to protecting Agency for International Development, of Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.—The United States national security interests, in- which $20,800,000 was provided in the Depart- amended bill recommends not less than cluding the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- ment of State, Foreign Operations and Re- $1,000,000 to expand public outreach efforts tion, the International Atomic Energy Agen- lated Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 related to implementation of the Western cy, and the Organization for the Prohibition (Public Law 110–161) for operations in Iraq. Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). With of Chemical Weapons. The amended bill includes $150,500,000 for WHTI implementation occurring as early as The Department of State is directed not Operating Expenses of the United States June 2009, there is concern about the lack of later than 45 days after enactment of this Agency for International Development. a comprehensive, coordinated plan between Act, to provide a report to the Committees Of the funds provided under this heading, the Department of State, the Department of on Appropriations detailing total United the amended bill includes $41,000,000 to con- Homeland Security, and the United States States-assessed contributions, any arrears tinue support for security needs in Iraq and Postal Service to broadly disseminate infor- from prior years and potential arrears for Afghanistan, which is the same as the re- mation to the traveling public concerning fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for each of the orga- quest. In addition, $30,000,000 is included to the final WHTI implementation require- nizations funded under this heading. increase support for staffing, security, and

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Change Activity Pending Amended from request bill request

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) ...... 165,000 139,000 ¥26,000 Provincial Reconstruction Development Councils ...... 100,000 85,000 ¥15,000 Local Governance Program ...... 65,000 54,000 ¥11,000 Community Stabilization Program (CSP) ...... 155,000 100,000 ¥55,000 Community Action Program (CAP) ...... 75,000 ∂75,000 Infrastructure Security Protection for Oil, Water and Electricity ...... 70,000 ...... ¥70,000 Operations and Maintenance of Key USG-Funded Infrastructure ...... 134,000 10,000 ¥124,000 Iraqi-American Enterprise Fund ...... 25,000 ...... ¥25,000 Provincial Economic Growth (including Agriculture and Microfinance) ...... 25,000 ∂25,000 National Capacity Development ...... 248,000 70,000 ¥178,000 Marla Fund ...... 5,000 ∂5,000

Total ...... 797,000 424,000 ¥373,000

Community Action Program (CAP).—The Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund.—The Vulnerable Groups.—Up to $10,000,000 of amended bill includes $75,000,000 for contin- amended bill includes $5,000,000 for the Marla funds made available for Iraq in this chapter, ued support for the Community Action Pro- Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund for contin- including from the Migration and Refugee gram. ued assistance for Iraqi civilians who suffer Assistance and International Disaster As- Community Stabilization Program (CSP).— losses as a result of the military operations. sistance accounts, should be made available The amended bill includes $100,000,000 for the National Capacity Development (NCD).— for programs to assist vulnerable Iraqi reli- CSP, which is $55,000,000 below the request. Within the amount provided in ESF for Iraq, gious and ethnic minority groups, including Recent findings of a March 18, 2008 USAID $70,000,000 is provided for NCD, which is Inspector General audit (E–267–08–001–P) of $178,000,000 below the request. The Govern- Christians. The Secretary of State should possible fraud and misuse of some CSP funds ment of Iraq should assume increasing re- designate staff at United States Embassy are of concern. Therefore the amended bill sponsibility for the cost of these activities. Baghdad to oversee and coordinate such as- withholds 50 percent of funding until the Operations and Maintenance of Key U.S. sistance. Secretary of State certifies and reports that Government-Funded Infrastructure.—The Afghanistan.—The amended bill includes USAID is implementing recommendations amended bill includes $10,000,000 for oper- $859,000,000 in ESF for Afghanistan, which is contained in the audit to ensure proper use ations and maintenance of key United States $25,000,000 above the request. USAID is di- of funds. government-funded infrastructure, which is rected to review its reconstruction efforts in Enterprise Fund.—The amended bill does $124,000,000 below the request. These func- not include any funding for the creation, tions should be funded by the Government of Afghanistan; focus its assistance, including capitalization, operation, or support of any Iraq and this Act includes sufficient funding capacity building, through local Afghan enti- enterprise fund in Iraq. The Department of to allow the United States to provide tech- ties; give greater attention to accountability State is directed not to reprogram any funds nical assistance and training. In addition, and monitoring to minimize corruption; and made available by this or prior Acts for an the amended bill conditions the funds on the emphasize programs which directly improve enterprise or enterprise-related fund in Iraq. signing and implementation of an asset the economic, social, and political status of Infrastructure Security Protection for Oil, transfer agreement between the United Afghan women and girls. Funds provided for Water, and Electricity.—The amended bill does States and Iraq. Afghanistan are to be allocated as follows: not include funding for these functions, Provincial Economic Growth.—The amended which should be supported by the Govern- bill includes $25,000,000 for provincial eco- ment of Iraq. nomic growth activities.

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Change Activity Pending Amended from request bill request

Civilian Assistance Program ...... 10,000 ∂10,000 Governance and Capacity Building ...... 135,000 165,000 ∂30,000 2009 Elections ...... 100,000 70,000 ¥30,000 National Solidarity Program ...... 40,000 65,000 ∂25,000 Health and Education ...... 50,000 75,000 ∂25,000 North Atlantic Treaty Organization POHRF ...... 2,000 ∂2,000 Power ...... 175,000 150,000 ¥25,000 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)/Provincial Governance ...... 50,000 ∂50,000 Roads ...... 329,000 200,000 ¥129,000 Rural Development/Alternative Livelihoods ...... 65,000 ∂65,000 Trade and Investment ...... 5,000 7,000 ∂2,000 Total ...... 834,000 859,000 ∂25,000

Civilian Assistance.—The amended bill in- ance for these countries, for a program to be social and health needs of refugees from Iraq, cludes $10,000,000 for USAID’s Afghan Civil- called the ‘‘Economic and Social Develop- including the feasibility of extending tem- ian Assistance Program to continue assist- ment Fund for Central America’’, of which porary residence status for registered ance for civilians who have suffered losses as $20,000,000 is to be administered by USAID, in with the United Nations High Commissioner a result of the military operations, and consultation with the Department of State. for Refugees. $2,000,000 for the NATO/ISAF Post-Oper- The purpose of the program is to promote Kenya.—The amended bill includes ations Humanitarian Relief Fund. economic and social development and good $12,000,000 for assistance for Kenya for polit- Governance and Capacity Building.—The governance in targeted, low-income areas, ical, ethnic and tribal reconciliation activi- amended bill provides $165,000,000 for govern- including rural communities that are par- ties. ance and capacity building programs, which ticularly vulnerable to drug trafficking and Mexico.—The amended bill includes is $30,000,000 above the request, to fund rule related violence and organized crime. These $20,000,000 for assistance for Mexico for insti- of law, human rights, and local and national funds should support programs that empha- tution building and support of civil society. capacity building. size community initiatives and public-pri- Funding for these purposes was requested National Solidarity Program.—The amended vate partnerships. United States funds through the International Narcotics and Law bill includes $65,000,000 for the National Soli- should be matched with contributions from Enforcement (INCLE) account. The amended darity Program to support small-scale devel- public and private sources to the maximum bill includes $5,000,000 for human rights opment initiatives. The funding shall be pro- extent practicable. USAID is directed to con- training for police, prosecutors, and prison grammed in a manner consistent with the sult with the Committees on Appropriations officials; $3,000,000 for victim and witness Afghan National Development Strategy. prior to the obligation of these funds. Of the protection; and $3,000,000 to support NGOs Power.—The amended bill includes funds available, $5,000,000 shall be adminis- and civil society. The amended bill also in- $150,000,000 for power, which is $25,000,000 tered by the Bureau of Educational and Cul- cludes $5,000,000 for a literacy program for below the request. The request includes fund- tural Affairs for educational exchanges with local police. USAID is encouraged to work ing for gas and diesel power projects and the countries of Central America. with non-governmental organizations, civil there is a concern that diesel generators are Democratic Republic of the Congo.—The society, and local police to replicate the lit- costly to maintain and will exacerbate amended bill includes $12,500,000 for assist- eracy program being implemented in Kabul’s already heavily polluted air. The ance for eastern Democratic Republic of the Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico. The amended bill completion of the north-south transmission Congo for urgent conflict mitigation and re- also includes funding for the Office of the UN line to enable Afghanistan to purchase elec- covery programs and for programs relating High Commissioner for Human Rights in tricity from its northern neighbors for dis- to sexual violence against women and girls. Mexico (OHCHR). The Department of State tribution to other areas of the country is Of this amount, not less than $1,000,000 is to is directed to work with the Mexican Gov- supported. Funding for the Northern Elec- establish and support a training center for ernment, the OHCHR, and civil society orga- trical Power System or the Shebergan Gas- health workers who provide care and treat- nizations in Mexico to promote respect for Fired Plant is not included. The World Bank ment for victims of sexual violence, and not human rights by Mexican police and mili- should play a larger role in financing such less than $2,000,000 is for training military tary forces. infrastructure projects. and civilian investigators, prosecutors, and Nepal.—The amended bill includes $7,000,000 It is noted that Afghanistan has consider- judges to bring the perpetrators of such for assistance for Nepal to strengthen de- able potential for small hydro and solar crimes to justice. mocracy and support the peace process, in- power development to service Afghanistan’s Exchanges with Africa.—The amended bill cluding the demobilization and reintegration many remote communities that have no includes $5,000,000 for educational exchanges of ex-combatants, and for economic develop- other access to electricity, and not less than with countries in Africa, specifically to ment programs in rural communities af- $15,000,000 of the funds shall be used for re- counter extremism. These funds should be fected by conflict. newable energy projects in rural areas. administered by the Bureau of Educational North Korea.—The amended bill includes up Provincial Reconstruction Teams.—The and Cultural Affairs. to $53,000,000 for energy-related assistance amended bill provides $50,000,000 for PRTs in Jordan.—The amended bill includes a total for North Korea in support of the goals of the Afghanistan. of $200,000,000 for economic assistance for Six-Party Talks Agreement, in addition to Roads.—The amended bill includes Jordan, of which $175,000,000 is appropriated the $53,000,000 appropriated in division J of $200,000,000 for roads, which is $129,000,000 under this heading, and $25,000,000 is appro- Public Law 110–161, which is the same as the below the request. priated through a general provision. The total amount requested. Prior to the obliga- Rural Development and Alternative Liveli- Government of Jordan remains a key ally tion of assistance for North Korea, the Sec- hoods.—The amended bill includes $65,000,000 and has played a leading role in supporting retary of State is directed to report to the for rural development and alternative liveli- peace initiatives in the Middle East. Pro- Committees on Appropriations that North hood programs and an additional $35,000,000 gramming of these resources should be done Korea is continuing to fulfill its commit- for counternarcotics under the ‘‘Inter- in consultation with the Government of Jor- ments under the Six-Party Talks Agreement. national Narcotics Control and Law Enforce- dan and refugee relief organizations and Pakistan.—The amended bill does not in- ment’’ account to expand counternarcotics funds should be used to meet the needs of clude funding for assistance for Pakistan in programs in Afghanistan. The Secretary of Iraqi refugees. The Secretary of State, after this subchapter. These needs are addressed in State is directed to consult with the Com- consultation with the Government of Jor- funding appropriated in the fiscal year 2009 mittees on Appropriations on the use of dan, the United Nations, and international bridge. these funds. organizations and non-governmental organi- Philippines.—The amended bill includes 2009 Elections.—The amended bill includes zations with a presence in Iraq, is directed to $15,000,000 for assistance for the Philippines $70,000,000 for preparations for the 2009 elec- submit a report to the Committees on Appro- for programs to further peace and reconcili- tions. priations not later than 45 days after enact- ation in the southern Philippines, and recog- Bangladesh.—The amended bill includes ment of this Act detailing (1) short- and me- nizes the shared interest between the United $25,000,000 for assistance for Bangladesh for dium-term options the United States and States and the Philippines in combating ter- cyclone recovery and reconstruction assist- other countries and organizations could pur- rorism in this region. ance. sue to assist Iraqis in Jordan to maintain Sri Lanka.—The amended bill includes Central America.—The amended bill in- their educational and vocational skills and $6,000,000 for assistance for Sri Lanka to be cludes $25,000,000 for the countries of Central earn income; and (2) longer term options provided through USAID to support eco- America in fiscal year 2008, in addition to that the United States and the Government nomic development programs in the eastern funds otherwise made available for assist- of Jordan can take to address the economic, region of Sri Lanka to solidify recent gains

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These funds should be used to assist the Government of Afghanistan is taking to flawed and the Secretary of State is directed, Tamil and Muslim minorities in Sri Lanka. arrest and prosecute leaders of Afghan drug not later than 45 days after enactment of Sudan.—The amended bill includes cartels; disarm and disband private militias; this Act and 120 days thereafter, to submit a $45,000,000 for assistance for Sudan to support and end corruption among national and pro- report to the Committees on Appropriations election-related activities. vincial police forces. detailing progress in conducting a thorough, Thailand.—The amended bill includes Central America.—The amended bill in- credible, and transparent investigation to $2,500,000 for assistance for Thailand to ad- cludes $24,800,000 for assistance for Belize, identify the perpetrators of this crime and dress economic and social development needs , El Salvador, Guatemala, Hon- bring them to justice. The Department of in southern Thailand. The Department of duras, Nicaragua, and Panama, and an addi- State should work with Mexican Govern- State is directed to consult with the Com- tional $5,000,000 for Haiti and the Dominican ment authorities and relevant Federal gov- mittees on Appropriations prior to the obli- Republic under the Merida Initiative. Al- ernment agencies of the United States to as- gation of these funds. though funding was requested only through sist in the investigation of this case. Uganda.—The amended bill includes the INCLE account, funding for the Merida West Bank.—The amended bill includes $17,500,000 for assistance for northern Ugan- Initiative is provided in the accounts from $25,000,000 for ongoing training of vetted da. These funds should be used to support which such activities are traditionally fund- units of the Palestinian National Security economic development, governance, assist- ed. The amended bill provides funding for Forces, which is the same as the request. ance for war victims, and reintegration of specialized police training and non-lethal MIGRATION AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE equipment to strengthen the law enforce- ex-combatants. The budget request included $230,000,000 for ment and criminal justice institutions for West Bank and Gaza.—The amended bill in- Migration and Refugee Assistance, of which the purpose of combating drug trafficking cludes not more than $171,000,000 for eco- $200,000,000 was provided in the Department and related violent crime and increasing the nomic assistance for the West Bank and of State, Foreign Operations and Related capacity and professionalism of Central Gaza, which is $24,000,000 below the request. Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public The Department of State is directed to pro- American police forces. Impunity within the military and police Law 110–161) for emergency refugee require- vide a report to the Committees on Appro- forces of several of these countries and cor- ments in Iraq and the West Bank and Gaza. priations not later than 90 days after the en- ruption within their justice systems is of The amended bill includes $315,000,000 for actment of this Act on how United States concern. The Secretary of State is directed Migration and Refugee Assistance, which is economic assistance for the West Bank sup- to submit a report in writing on mechanisms $285,000,000 above the pending request. Funds ports the larger Palestinian Reform and De- in place to ensure eligibility of recipients of should be made available to meet unmet velopment Plan as well as a description of United States assistance. global refugee needs, including to assist other donor support of this plan. The report The omission of Haiti and the Dominican Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, should describe how assistance from the Republic from the request for the Merida Ini- Turkey, Egypt, and the surrounding region, United States and other donors will improve tiative makes it more likely that these vul- as well as internally displaced persons in conditions in the West Bank, including nerable countries would become increasingly Iraq. Funds may also be used, if necessary, through job creation and housing programs. favored transit routes for drug traffickers. for the admissions costs of Iraqis granted Zimbabwe.—The amended bill includes The amended bill includes $2,500,000 for Haiti special immigrant status under the Special $5,000,000 for assistance for Zimbabwe to sup- and $2,500,000 for the Dominican Republic as Immigrant Visa program authorized by the port political reconciliation activities. part of the Merida Initiative to support National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. DEPARTMENT OF STATE counternarcotics and border security pro- In addition, funds may be used to offset ad- ministrative costs associated with the ex- DEMOCRACY FUND grams, anti-corruption, judicial reform, in- stitution-building, and rule of law programs. panded requirements of the Iraqi refugee The amended bill includes $76,000,000 for Mexico.—There is a shared responsibility program, in consultation with the Commit- Democracy Fund programs, requested under between the United States and Mexico to tees on Appropriations. the heading ‘‘Economic Support Fund’’, to be combat drug trafficking and related violence The humanitarian crisis involving Iraqi made available as follows: and organized crime. The amended bill in- refugees and internally displaced persons is Chad.—The amended bill includes $1,000,000 cludes $215,500,000 to support programs to en- of concern and the Government of Iraq has for democracy activities in Chad. able the Government of Mexico to respond to dedicated insufficient resources to assist this Iraq.—The amended bill includes $75,000,000 these threats in accordance with the rule of most vulnerable segment of the Iraqi popu- for democracy activities in Iraq. These funds law. The amended bill includes $10,000,000 for lation. The Department of State shall urge are intended to be available through non- demand reduction and drug rehabilitation the Government of Iraq to provide a substan- governmental organizations, including the activities; $3,000,000 to provide technical and tial increase in funding for humanitarian as- National Endowment for Democracy, and not other assistance to enable the Government sistance to the Iraqi refugee population re- less than $8,000,000 for the United States In- of Mexico to put into service a unified na- siding in the region and within the country. stitute of Peace. These funds should be tional police registry; and not more than In addition, the Secretary of State should awarded expeditiously to prevent interrup- $24,000,000 for program development and sup- ensure that the Senior Coordinator for Iraqi tion of current operations. port. To the extent possible, any equipment Refugee Issues gives particular attention to INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL AND LAW and technology purchases should be inter- the needs of vulnerable minority groups, in- ENFORCEMENT operable based on open standards with the cluding ethnic and religious minorities. The amended bill includes $390,300,000 for equipment and technology being used by The welfare and security of the 7,900 Lao International Narcotics Control and Law En- their United States Government counter- Hmong in the Thai military camp in forcement (INCLE) activities in Afghanistan, parts. Petchaboon, northern Thailand is of concern Corruption and impunity within Mexico’s Iraq, Mexico, Central America, Haiti, the Do- and the Department of State is directed to military and police forces are of concern. minican Republic, and the West Bank, which urge the Government of Thailand to support Recommendations of the National Human is $343,700,000 below the request. The Sec- a transparent screening process to identify Rights Commission have been ignored and retary of State is directed to consult with those who have a legitimate fear of return to investigations of violations of human rights the Committees on Appropriations on the Laos. Any attempt to force the return of by Mexican military and police forces rarely Hmong refugees to Laos is strongly opposed. use of these funds. result in convictions. The Secretary of Iraq.—The amended bill includes $85,000,000 UNITED STATES EMERGENCY REFUGEE AND State, in consultation with relevant Mexican MIGRATION ASSISTANCE FUND for Iraq for justice and rule of law programs, Government authorities, is directed to re- The amended bill includes $31,000,000 for which is $74,000,000 below the request. Fund- port to the Committees on Appropriations the United States Emergency Refugee and ing for prison construction is not included. that mechanisms are in place to ensure eligi- Migration Assistance Fund to prevent deple- Afghanistan.—The amended bill includes bility of recipients of United States assist- tion of this emergency fund. $35,000,000, which is $35,000,000 above the re- ance. quest, to support programs to strengthen There is concern with the failure to inves- NONPROLIFERATION, ANTI-TERRORISM, counternarcotics efforts, to improve the tigate and prosecute the police officers re- DEMINING AND RELATED PROGRAMS training of the Afghan police, including bor- sponsible for human rights violations, in- The amended bill includes $13,700,000 for der police, to advance the development of in- cluding rape and sexual violence against Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining stitutional capacity professionalism of the women, at San Salvador Atenco on May 3–4, and Related Programs (NADR), which is justice sector, and to help facilitate coopera- 2006, and in Oaxaca between June and De- $8,700,000 above the request. tion between the police and the judiciary at cember 2006. These and other such violations Of these funds, $5,000,000 is for presidential both the national and regional levels. The by members of the Mexican military and po- protective service support in Afghanistan, Department of State is directed to report to lice forces have been documented and require which is the same as the request, and the Committees on Appropriations not later thorough, credible and transparent inves- $2,500,000 is for a United States contribution than 180 days after enactment of this Act on tigation and prosecution by the Mexican At- to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Inter- the level of counternarcotics cooperation by torney General. national Monitoring System. the Government of Afghanistan at the na- The state and Federal investigations into Central America.—The amended bill also in- tional and regional level and should detail, the October 27, 2006, killing in Oaxaca of cludes $6,200,000 for the Merida Initiative for

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the countries of Central America, which is State or USAID. SIGAR should co-locate OTHER BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE $6,200,000 above the request. Although fund- staff and ‘‘back office’’ support systems with ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND ing for these purposes was requested only other inspectors general to the extent fea- The amended bill includes $1,124,800,000 for through the INCLE account, funding has sible. Economic Support Fund to address critical been provided in the NADR account, from EMBASSY SECURITY, CONSTRUCTION, AND health, economic, and security needs. These which such activities are traditionally fund- MAINTENANCE funds are to be allocated as follows: ed. The amended bill includes $41,300,000 for MILITARY ASSISTANCE urgent embassy security, construction, and ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT maintenance costs. Funds should be used to [In thousands of dollars] FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING PROGRAM construct safe and secure office space for the increasing number of diplomatic and devel- Country and region Amended The amended bill includes $137,500,000 for bill opment personnel living and working in Foreign Military Financing Program, which Kabul, Afghanistan. Afghanistan ...... 455,000 is $137,500,000 above the request. Bangladesh ...... 50,000 Central America.—The amended bill in- INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Burma ...... 5,300 Central African Republic ...... 2,000 cludes $4,000,000 to augment the ongoing CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL Chad ...... 5,000 naval cooperation program and maritime se- ORGANIZATIONS Democratic Republic of the Congo ...... 10,000 curity assistance to strengthen the ability of Iraq ...... 102,500 The amended bill includes $75,000,000 for Jordan ...... 100,000 the countries of Central America to improve Contributions to International Organiza- Kenya ...... 25,000 maritime security and interdiction capabili- tions. North Korea ...... 15,000 ties, including to complement existing re- Pakistan ...... 150,000 CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL Sudan ...... 25,000 gional systems and programs. Uganda ...... 15,000 Jordan.—The amended bill includes a total PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES West Bank and Gaza ...... 150,000 of $50,000,000 for military assistance for Jor- The amended bill includes $150,500,000 for Zimbabwe ...... 15,000 dan, of which $17,000,000 is appropriated Contributions for International Peace- Total ...... 1,124,800 under this heading and $33,000,000 is appro- keeping Activities to fund the Administra- priated through a general provision. tion’s revised estimate of the United States- Afghanistan.—The amended bill includes Mexico.—The amended bill includes assessed contribution to international peace- $455,000,000 for assistance for Afghanistan. $116,500,000 in support of military-to-military keeping. Governance and Capacity Building.—The cooperation between the United States and RELATED AGENCY amended bill includes $20,000,000 for the Na- Mexico. tional Solidarity Program to support small- BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS SUBCHAPTER B—BRIDGE FUND SUPPLE- scale development initiatives; and not less INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING OPERATIONS MENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FIS- than $35,000,000 for preparations for the 2009 CAL YEAR 2009 The amended bill includes $6,000,000 for elections. The funding shall be programmed International Broadcasting Operations. in a manner consistent with the Afghan Na- The budget request totals $3,605,000,000 in BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE tional Development Strategy. emergency supplemental funds for fiscal Rural Development and Alternative Liveli- year 2009. The amended bill provides a total FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT hoods.—The amended bill includes not less of $3,679,500,000 for the Department of State, GLOBAL HEALTH AND CHILD SURVIVAL than $35,000,000 for rural development and al- Foreign Operations and Related Programs The amended bill includes $75,000,000 for ternative livelihoods. for fiscal year 2009 emergency supplemental Bangladesh.—The amended bill includes requirements, which is $74,500,000 above the Global Health and Child Survival to continue programs to combat avian influenza. $50,000,000 for cyclone recovery and recon- request. struction assistance. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE Burma.—The amended bill includes ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS The amended bill includes $200,000,000 for $5,300,000 for assistance for Burma for hu- Development Assistance, which is for a new manitarian programs along the Thai-Burma DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR PROGRAMS Food Security Initiative to promote food se- border. The amended bill includes $704,900,000 for curity in countries affected by significant Iraq.—The amended bill includes Diplomatic and Consular Programs. Within food shortages, such as programs to assist $102,500,000 for assistance for Iraq. this amount, $78,400,000 is available for farmers to increase crop yields, including in Community Action Program (CAP).—The worldwide security protection and not more Darfur. Of this amount, up to $50,000,000 amended bill includes $32,500,000 for contin- than $550,500,000 is available as a bridge fund should be used for local and regional pur- ued support for the Community Action Pro- for Iraq operations. chase. The Secretary of State is directed to gram. To meet increased security and personnel submit a report to the Committees on Appro- Community Stabilization Program (CSP).— requirements, the amended bill includes priations not later than 45 days after enact- The amended bill includes $32,500,000 for con- $89,400,000 for Afghanistan, $7,000,000 for ment of this Act, and prior to the initial ob- tinued support for the Community Stabiliza- Pakistan, $3,000,000 for Somalia, and ligation of funds, on the proposed uses of tion Program. $15,000,000 for Sudan. In addition, the amend- funds to alleviate starvation, hunger, and Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund.—The ed bill includes $40,000,000 to continue the malnutrition overseas, including a list of amended bill includes $2,500,000 for the Marla support of new positions to develop language those countries facing significant food short- Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund for contin- and other critical skills of the diplomatic ages. ued assistance for Iraqi civilians who suffer corps and for civilian post-conflict stabiliza- losses as a result of the military operations. INTERNATIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE tion initiatives. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).— The amended bill includes $200,000,000 for The amended bill includes $35,000,000 for con- OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL International Disaster Assistance to meet tinued support for the Provincial Recon- (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) urgent humanitarian requirements world- struction Teams. The amended bill includes $57,000,000 for wide, including support for critical needs in DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of Inspector General at the Depart- Bangladesh, Burma, and the People’s Repub- INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL AND LAW ment of State, of which $15,500,000 is to con- lic of China. A portion of these funds should ENFORCEMENT tinue oversight of programs in Iraq and Af- be used for assistance for internally dis- The amended bill includes $199,000,000 for ghanistan, and the Middle East. placed persons in Iraq and Afghanistan. In International Narcotics Control and Law En- Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruc- addition, funds are available under this head- forcement activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, tion (SIGIR).—The amended bill includes ing to assist in the response to the inter- the West Bank, Mexico, and Africa. The Sec- $36,500,000 for SIGIR for continued oversight national food crisis. retary of State is directed to consult with of United States reconstruction programs in OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE UNITED STATES the Committees on Appropriations on the Iraq, as authorized by section 3001 of Public AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT use of these funds. Law 108–106. The amended bill includes $93,000,000 for MIGRATION AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Re- Operating Expenses of the United States construction (SIGAR).—The amended bill in- The amended bill includes $350,000,000 for Agency for International Development to ad- cludes $5,000,000 for SIGAR, which is Migration and Refugee Assistance to respond dress staffing, security, and operating needs. $5,000,000 above the request, and which is au- to urgent humanitarian and refugee admis- thorized by section 1229 of Public Law 110– OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE UNITED STATES sions requirements, including those involv- 181. Such funds shall be used for oversight of AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ing refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, and cen- United States reconstruction programs in OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL tral Africa. Afghanistan. None of the funds shall be used The amended bill includes $1,000,000 for Op- NONPROLIFERATION, ANTI-TERRORISM, to duplicate investigations that have been erating Expenses of the United States Agen- DEMINING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS conducted or to support offices or systems of cy for International Development Office of The amended bill includes $4,500,000 for inspectors general at the Department of Inspector General. Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining

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and Related Programs, for humanitarian BUYING POWER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT atory statement. Any change to these alloca- demining in Iraq. (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) tions shall be subject to the regular notifica- MILITARY ASSISTANCE Section 1408 provides authority to utilize tion procedures of the Committees on Appro- priations. FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT $26,000,000 from appropriations for Diplo- REPROGRAMMING AUTHORITY FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING PROGRAM matic and Consular Programs from a prior Act and authority to transfer up to an addi- Section 1415 allows for reprogramming of The amended bill includes $302,500,000 for tional $74,000,000 of the funds made available funds made available in prior years to ad- Foreign Military Financing Program, of by this Act to the Buying Power Mainte- dress critical food shortages, subject to prior which $100,000,000 is for assistance for Jor- nance Account to manage exchange rate consultation with, and the regular notifica- dan, $170,000,000 is for assistance for , losses in fiscal year 2008. The Department of tion procedures of, the Committees on Ap- and $32,500,000 is for assistance for Lebanon. State shall consult on any proposed transfers propriations. PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS resulting from this authority. The Depart- SPENDING PLANS AND NOTIFICATION The amended bill includes $95,000,000 for ment of State estimates the impact of cur- PROCEDURES Peacekeeping Operations for programs in Af- rency fluctuations to be at least $260,000,000 Section 1416 requires the Secretary of rica to address needs beyond those projected on United States diplomatic operations State to provide detailed spending plans to in the fiscal year 2009 budget request, includ- worldwide. the Committees on Appropriations on the ing for Darfur and $10,000,000 for Peace- In addition, the provision includes author- uses of funds appropriated in subchapters A keeping Operations in the Democratic Re- ity to transfer unobligated and expired bal- and B. These funds are also subject to the public of the Congo (DRC). These funds are ances after fiscal year 2008 into the Buying regular notification procedures of the Com- made available to support infantry battal- Power Maintenance Account to address fu- mittees on Appropriations. ions of the DRC armed forces, to protect vul- ture exchange rate losses. The Secretary of nerable civilians in the eastern region of the State shall submit a report to the Commit- TERMS AND CONDITIONS country, and should be made available in ac- tees on Appropriations not later than Octo- Section 1417 establishes that unless des- cordance with thorough vetting procedures. ber 15, 2008, on the amount transferred by ignated otherwise in this chapter, the terms The Department of State should ensure that this authority in this or any fiscal year, the and conditions contained within the Depart- trained units are being provided professional total amount of exchange rate losses in fis- ment of State, Foreign Operations and Re- leadership, appropriate training in human cal year 2008, and the accumulated impact of lated Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 rights, and adequate pay. losses from prior years. (Public Law 110–161) shall apply to funds ap- SUBCHAPTER C—GENERAL PROVISIONS, Finally, authority is granted to the Broad- propriated by this chapter, with the excep- THIS CHAPTER casting Board of Governors to transfer unob- tion of section 699K. ligated and expired balances after fiscal year The amended bill includes the following TITLE II—DOMESTIC MATTERS 2008 into its Buying Power Maintenance Ac- general provisions for this chapter: CHAPTER 1—FOOD AND DRUG count. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES ADMINISTRATION SERBIA Section 1401 extends certain authorities DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN Section 1409 authorizes the Secretary of SERVICES necessary to expend Department of State State to withhold funds related to reim- OOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION and foreign assistance funds. bursement of costs associated with damage F IRAQ to the United States Embassy in Belgrade re- SALARIES AND EXPENSES Section 1402 imposes certain conditions sulting from the February 21, 2008, attack. The amended bill provides an additional and limitations on assistance for Iraq and re- RESCISSIONS $150,000,000 for Food and Drug Administra- quires reports. Section 1410 rescinds prior year funds and tion, Salaries and Expenses, available until AFGHANISTAN makes them available for a contribution to September 30, 2009. FDA is directed to pro- vide the Committees on Appropriations Section 1403 imposes certain conditions the World Food Program and for programs in monthly expenditures reports on the use of and limitations on assistance for Afghani- the INCLE account. The provision also re- these funds. stan and requires a report. scinds prior year funds from the Iraq Relief CHAPTER 2—COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND WEST BANK and Reconstruction Fund. SCIENCE Section 1404 directs the Department of DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE State to provide a report to the Committees Section 1411 authorizes the President to on Appropriations not later than 90 days utilize prior year Foreign Military Financ- BUREAU OF THE CENSUS after enactment of this Act, and 180 days ing Program and Peacekeeping Operations PERIODIC CENSUSES AND PROGRAMS thereafter, on the Palestinian security as- funds for transfer or lease of helicopters or (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) sistance program. related equipment necessary for operations The amended bill includes $210,000,000 for of the AU/UN hybrid peacekeeping mission in WAIVER OF CERTAIN SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH increased costs associated with the poor Darfur. KOREA management of the 2010 Decennial Census. Section 1405 grants waiver authority to the TIBET Within the funds provided, not less than President with respect to certain assistance Section 1412 provides up to $5,000,000 for $50,300,000 shall be used to restore funding as- to North Korea and the ‘‘Glenn Amend- the establishment of a United States Con- sociated with the approved March 26, 2008 re- ment,’’ which established automatic sanc- sulate in Lhasa, Tibet, under the headings programming within the Bureau of the Cen- tions in the Arms Export Control Act on ‘‘Diplomatic and Consular Programs’’ and sus. Funds transferred pursuant to the re- non-nuclear weapon states that detonate a ‘‘Embassy Security, Construction and Main- programming to address immediate short- nuclear device. tenance’’ in this and prior Acts, and rec- falls within the Field Data Collection Auto- MEXICO ommends certain actions regarding the open- mation contract from the American Commu- ing of such a consulate. nity Survey, Census Coverage Measurement Section 1406 sets a ceiling on funding for The Secretary of State is directed to sub- activities, and other Census activities may Mexico at $400,000,000. The provision also mit a report to the Committees on Appro- result in increased risk and other unintended provides a restriction on the use of funding priations not later than 90 days after enact- consequences to other parts of the Census. for budget support or cash payments and re- ment of this Act detailing efforts taken by The $50,300,000 shall be available solely to stricts obligation of 15 percent of the funding the Department of State to establish a complete previously planned activities and provided under the headings ‘‘Foreign Mili- United States Consulate in Lhasa, Tibet, and address vacancies in the aforementioned tary Financing Program’’ and ‘‘International a description of any policies or programs by areas in order to reduce risk and ensure a Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement’’ the Government of the People’s Republic of successful 2010 Decennial Census. until the Secretary of State submits a report China aimed at undermining public support The Census Bureau shall submit to the in writing. for Tibet including in the media, academia, Committees on Appropriations of the Senate CENTRAL AMERICA and political arenas. and the House of Representatives, within 30 Section 1407 states that $65,000,000 may be JORDAN days of enactment of this Act, a detailed made available for the countries of Central (INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS) plan showing a timeline of milestones and America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic expenditures for the 2010 Decennial Census, Section 1413 provides $58,000,000 for assist- and prohibits the use of funding for budget and shall include a quantitative assessment ance for Jordan, which is offset by a rescis- support or cash payments. The provision re- of the associated risk to the program as it is sion of an equal amount from the Millen- stricts obligation of 15 percent of the funding currently constituted. In addition, the In- nium Challenge Corporation. provided under the headings ‘‘Foreign Mili- spector General shall submit quarterly re- tary Financing Program’’ and ‘‘International ALLOCATIONS ports to the Committees on Appropriations, Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement’’ for Section 1414 requires that funds in the until the conclusion of the 2010 Decennial the military and police forces until the Sec- specified accounts shall be allocated as indi- Census, detailing the progress of the revised retary of State submits a report in writing. cated in the respective tables in this explan- plan for the execution of the 2010 Decennial

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:30 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.052 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE S6250 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 Census and any unanticipated slippages from Funding for research efforts shall not be al- CHAPTER 2—COMMERCE the revised 2010 milestones, as well as reas- located until the Office of Science has fully DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE sessing the associated risk to the program. funded all personnel requirements. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION The Census Bureau is directed to provide the ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER DEFENSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE Inspector General with any required infor- ACTIVITIES PROGRAMS mation so that the quarterly reports can begin 60 days after submission of the plan. DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP The amended bill provides $100,000,000 for Because rising costs associated with the The amended bill includes an additional economic development assistance in Presi- 2010 Decennial Census and the Department’s $62,500,000 for Defense Environmental Clean- dentially-declared disaster areas to provide and the Bureau’s lack of contract oversight up. disaster relief, long-term recovery and res- are cause for particular concern, the bill in- toration of infrastructure. CHAPTER 4—LABOR AND HEALTH AND CHAPTER 3—CORPS OF ENGINEERS cludes not less than $3,000,000 for the Depart- HUMAN SERVICES ment’s Office of the Inspector General for DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL Census contract oversight activities and not DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY less than $1,000,000 solely for a reimbursable EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION CORPS OF ENGINEERS—CIVIL agreement with the Defense Contract Man- STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND Public Law 109–148, the 3rd emergency sup- agement Agency to review and improve Cen- EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OPERATIONS plemental appropriations act of 2006, Public sus contract management. The amended bill provides $110,000,000 for Law 109–234, the 4th emergency supplemental DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Unemployment Compensation State Oper- appropriations act of 2006, and Public Law FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM ations to compensate the States for the ad- 110–28, the emergency supplemental appro- priations act of 2007, provided funds to repair SALARIES AND EXPENSES ministrative costs of processing the Unem- and restore hurricane damaged projects, ac- The amended bill includes $178,000,000 for ployment Insurance (UI) claims workload for the balance of fiscal year 2008. New UI claims celerate completion of New Orleans area additional costs of the Bureau of Prisons flood and storm damage reduction projects, (BOP) related to the custody and care of in- are increasing, reaching a level in April 2008 nearly 18 percent greater than the previous and provide 100-year storm protection for the mates and the maintenance and operation of greater New Orleans area. The scope and correctional and penal institutions. The BOP year. States are beginning to experience service degradation in the form of call center magnitude of the work required has in- has been chronically underfunded in recent creased with time. The current cost estimate budget requests, due to consistently under- delays for claimants, waiting times for adju- dication of disputed claims, and reductions requires $5,761,000,000 in additional Federal estimated growth in inmate populations and funds and a non-Federal cost-share of inadequate funding requests for medical ex- in program integrity activities, tax collec- tion, and tax audits. While funding in the $1,527,000,000. penses. As a result, BOP facilities face rising The Administration requested this funding Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 is suf- staff-to-inmate ratios, placing corrections under the Construction account in the fiscal ficient to cover the costs of processing 2.4 officers and inmates at unacceptable risk of year 2009 budget. The amended bill provides million Average Weekly Insured Unemploy- violence. The amended bill includes funding the full amount of the request as a supple- ment (AWIU), claims have already climbed for FCI Pollock activation costs and for in- mental appropriation to ensure the existing above 2.9 million AWIU. The amount pro- mate drug abuse treatment required by law. schedule for completion of 100-year protec- vided will compensate States for the claims The Administration is urged to re-estimate tion for the greater New Orleans area by 2011 workload estimated by the Department of BOP fixed costs and prisoner population for is met. However, $2,926,000,000 is provided Labor up to the point where additional funds fiscal year 2009 and to provide the House and under Flood Control and Coastal Emer- are released under a legislated trigger. Senate Committees on Appropriations with gencies in order to provide continuity in ap- those estimates no later than August 1, 2008. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN propriations for projects to repair, restore, Further, the BOP is directed to notify the SERVICES and accelerate completion of the levels of Committees of current staff-to-inmate ratios NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH protection authorized prior to Hurricane at all Federal prisons on a monthly basis. Katrina. None of the funds recommended for OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OTHER AGENCIES this purpose shall be available until October (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE 1, 2008. ADMINISTRATION The amended bill provides $150,000,000 in In addition, the amended bill provides additional funding for the National Insti- $605,988,800 to respond to recent natural dis- SCIENCE, AERONAUTICS AND EXPLORATION tutes of Health to support additional sci- asters. The funding included under the Con- The amended bill includes $62,500,000 for entific research. This funding is to be dis- struction; Mississippi River and Tributaries; Science, Aeronautics and Exploration. tributed on a pro-rata basis across the NIH Operation and Maintenance; and Flood Con- NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION institutes and centers. trol and Coastal Emergency accounts that reference natural disasters are provided to RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 5—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH address nationwide disaster recovery and The amended bill includes $22,500,000 for HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES emergency situations and should not be con- Research and Related Activities, of which PAYMENT TO WIDOWS AND HEIRS OF DECEASED strued to pertain exclusively to any single $5,000,000 shall be available solely for activi- MEMBERS OF CONGRESS disaster event. The Corps shall prioritize all ties authorized by section 7002(b)(2)(A)(iv) of projects to ensure that the most critical Public Law 110–69. The amended bill provides the customary death gratuity to Annette Lantos, widow of health and safety risks are addressed. EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES Tom Lantos, late a Representative from the CONSTRUCTION The amended bill includes $40,000,000 for State of California. The amended bill includes $2,896,700,000 for Education and Related Activities of which Construction. Within the recommended $20,000,000 is for section 10 of the National TITLE III—NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY funds, $1,077,000,000 is provided to complete Science Foundation Authorization Act of the 100-year storm protection for the Lake 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1) and $20,000,000, is for CHAPTER 1—AGRICULTURE Pontchartrain and Vicinity project; activities authorized by section 10A of the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE $920,000,000 is provided to complete the 100- National Science Foundation Authorization FARM SERVICE AGENCY year storm protection for the West Bank and Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1a). Vicinity project; and $838,000,000 is provided CHAPTER 3—ENERGY EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM for elements of the Southeast Louisiana DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY The amended bill provides $89,413,000 for Urban Drainage project that are within the the Emergency Conservation Program for ENERGY PROGRAMS geographic perimeter of the West Bank and disaster relief. The recent Midwest floods Vicinity projects and the Lake Pont- SCIENCE and tornadoes have added to disaster relief chartrain and Vicinity project. The amended bill includes an additional funding needs. Therefore, these funds are The amended bill includes a provision $62,500,000 for Science. The Department of provided to meet these and other disaster re- which requires the Lake Pontchartrain and Energy is instructed to utilize this funding lief funding needs. Vicinity, West Bank and Vicinity and South- to eliminate all furloughs and reductions in east Louisiana projects be cost shared 65 per- NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE force which are a direct result of budgetary cent Federal and 35 percent non-Federal as constraints. Workforce reductions which are EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM proposed by the Administration with a re- a result of completed work or realignment of The amended bill provides $390,464,000 for sulting Federal cost of $2,835,000,000 and a mission should proceed as planned. This the Emergency Watershed Protection Pro- non-Federal cost of $1,527,000,000. While the funding is intended to maintain technical ex- gram for disaster relief. The recent Midwest amended bill includes specific statutory dol- pertise and capability at the Office of floods and tornadoes have added to disaster lar amounts for the three projects, statutory Science, and may be used for National Lab- relief funding needs. Therefore, these funds language has been included that would allow oratory Research and Development including are provided to meet these and other disaster the Administration to request a reprogram- research related to new neutrino initiatives. relief funding needs. ming of funds, if required. However, the

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The amended bill includes not fully account for the operational chal- istering entity or entities can act as a public $61,700,000 for the Corps to repair and reha- lenges that arise during major storm events housing agency for purposes of administering bilitate these construction projects that and are not, therefore, fully protective of the funding. were affected by natural disasters. public safety. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES EXPENSES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND Due to recent natural disasters, the Corps The amended bill includes $1,500,000 for ad- of Engineers has identified a number of Fed- ditional oversight and management costs as- The amended bill provides $300,000,000 for erally-maintained construction and mainte- sociated with Hurricane Katrina recovery ef- the Community Development Fund for nec- nance projects that have been damaged or forts. essary expenses related to disaster relief, otherwise impacted by storm and flood CHAPTER 4—SMALL BUSINESS long-term recovery, and restoration of infra- events. The amended bill includes $17,590,000 structure in areas for which the President SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION for the Corps to repair and rehabilitate these declared a major disaster. projects that were affected by natural disas- DISASTER LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT TITLE IV—EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT ters. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) COMPENSATION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Based on early estimates of damages due to severe storms and flooding in a number of The amended bill includes language pro- Due to recent natural disasters, the Corps states, the amended bill includes $164,939,000 viding a temporary extension of unemploy- of Engineers has identified a number of navi- in loan subsidy for the costs of providing di- ment benefits to workers who have lost their gation and flood damage reduction projects rect loans for homeowners and business-own- jobs. Specifically, the amended bill provides that have been impacted by storm and flood ers so that they can recover from the effects up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment events. The amended bill provides $298,344,000 of these disasters. The amended bill also in- benefits in every State to workers exhaust- for the Corps to restore navigation channels cludes a total of $101,814,000 for the adminis- ing regular unemployment compensation. and harbors to pre-storm conditions; and to trative costs for carrying out the loan pro- The extended benefits program will termi- repair eligible flood damage reduction and gram. These funds will provide for the on nate on March 31, 2009. The percentage of other projects in States affected by natural site presence of Small Business Administra- workers exhausting unemployment benefits disasters. tion (SBA) employees to assist disaster vic- is currently 37 percent, which is higher than FLOOD CONTROL AND COASTAL EMERGENCIES tims in obtaining low interest loans from the at the beginning of any of the past five reces- The amended bill provides $3,152,854,800 for SBA. Funding will support additional to sions. Not only will workers and their fami- Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies. The staff in call centers, disaster resource sites, lies benefit from extended benefits, providing funding includes, at full Federal expense, the and loan processing centers and for field in- this financial assistance also can reduce the following amounts: $704,000,000 to modify the spections to verify damages and losses of severity and duration of an economic down- 17th Street, Orleans Avenue, and London Av- homes and businesses. Funding is also nec- turn. Experts agree that extending unem- enue drainage canals and install pumps and essary to hire additional attorneys to carry ployment benefits is one of the most cost-ef- closure structures at or near the lakefront; out the loan closing process, as well as staff fective and fast acting forms of economic $90,000,000 for storm-proofing interior pump to service the loans. Of this amount, stimulus because workers who have lost stations to ensure the operability of the sta- $6,000,000 may be transferred to the Salaries their paychecks have little choice but to tions during hurricanes, storms, and high and Expenses account for indirect adminis- spend these benefits quickly. water events; $459,000,000 for armoring crit- trative expenses and $1,000,000 is for the Of- TITLE V—VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ical elements of the New Orleans hurricane fice of Inspector General for audits and re- ASSISTANCE and storm damage reduction system; views of disaster loans. $53,000,000 to improve protection at the Inner CHAPTER 5—FEMA DISASTER RELIEF Title V of the amended bill includes provi- Harbor Navigation Canal; $456,000,000 to re- sions designed to expand the educational DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY place or modify certain non-Federal levees in benefits for men and women who have served Plaquemines Parish to incorporate the lev- FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY in the armed forces since the terrorist at- ees into the existing New Orleans to Venice DISASTER RELIEF tacks of September 11, 2001. The provisions hurricane protection project; $412,000,000 for The amended bill provides an additional will closely resemble the educational bene- reinforcing or replacing flood walls, as nec- $897,000,000 for Disaster Relief. The recent fits provided to veterans returning from essary, in the existing Lake Pontchartrain Midwest floods and tornadoes have added to World War II. and Vicinity project and the existing West disaster relief funding needs. The 1993 Mid- The benefits included in title V would Bank and Vicinity project to improve the west floods cost FEMA over $1.1 billion fif- apply to all members of the military who performance of the systems; $393,000,000 for teen years ago and the current damage is have served on active duty, including acti- repair and restoration of authorized protec- likely to cost at least this amount, but in in- vated reservists and National Guard. To tions and floodwalls; and $359,000,000 to com- flated dollars. This funding is provided to qualify, veterans must have served at least plete the authorized protection for the Lake partially meet these and other disaster relief three months of qualified active duty, begin- Pontchartrain and Vicinity Project, for the funding needs. ning on or after September 11, 2001. The West Bank and Vicinity Project and the New CHAPTER 6—HOUSING AND URBAN amended bill provides for benefits to be paid Orleans to Venice Project. While the Com- DEVELOPMENT in amounts linked to the amount of active mittee has recommended specific statutory DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN duty service. dollar amounts for the projects identified DEVELOPMENT In addition to tuition and other estab- under this heading, statutory language has lished charges, the benefit includes a month- PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING been included that would allow the Adminis- ly stipend for housing costs as well as tuto- tration to request a reprogramming of funds, The amended bill includes funding for Lou- rial assistance and licensure and certifi- if required. However, the Corps should use isiana Permanent Supportive Housing, in the cation tests. this reprogramming ability sparingly. amount of $73,000,000. This is a new program, Due to recent natural disasters, the Corps and the money is split between two accounts The amended bill would create a new pro- of Engineers has identified a number of in the bill—the Homeless Assistance Grants gram in which the government will agree to projects that have been damaged by storm and the Project-Based Rental Assistance pro- match, dollar for dollar, any voluntary addi- and flood events. The amended bill includes grams. This program will provide funding for tional contributions to veterans from insti- $226,854,800 for the Corps to prepare for flood, the 3,000 units of permanent supportive hous- tutions whose tuition is more expensive than hurricane and other natural disasters and ing that are envisioned in the HUD-approved the maximum educational assistance pro- support emergency operations, repairs, and Louisiana Road Home Program. This will en- vided in the amended bill. other activities in response to flood and hur- able the promise of the Road Home Program In addition, title V allows for members of ricane emergencies, as authorized by law; to to address the housing needs of our most vul- the armed services to transfer their benefits repair and rehabilitate eligible projects that nerable citizens, in particular extremely to their spouse or children. were affected by natural disasters; and to low-income homeless, disabled and frail el- Finally, the amended bill provides for the fund claims processing and discovery costs derly persons, to be fulfilled. Of the veterans to have up to fifteen years after associated with Hurricane Katrina lawsuits. $73,000,000 provided, $20,000,000 will fund 2,000 they leave active duty to use their edu- The amended bill includes a provision di- project-based vouchers (funded for 1-year cational assistance entitlement. Veterans recting the Corps to continue the NEPA al- terms) with $3,000,000 in administrative fees, would be barred from receiving concurrent ternative evaluation of all options for per- and $50,000,000 will fund 1,000 Shelter Plus assistance from this program and another manent pumping of storm water in the New Care units (funded for five-year terms). similar program.

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Fraud Loophole Act,’’ passed by the House The moratorium on these six regulations is Section 8002 provides that, unless other- on April 23, 2008 and was in the Senate included in the amended bill due to concerns wise noted, all appropriations in this Act are designated as emergency requirements and amendment adopted on May 22, 2008. It closes about their potential negative impact on es- necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant a loophole in a proposed rule so that manda- sential medical services for millions of peo- to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21 and sec- tory fraud reporting requirements would ple, particularly for seniors, people with dis- tion 301(b)(2) of S. Con. Res. 70, the congres- apply to U.S. contractors working overseas abilities, and children, and on the providers sional budget resolutions for fiscal years 2008 as well as to contractors working here at of these safety net services. These regula- home. and 2009. tions also would have a far-reaching impact Section 8003 provides for a reduction of CHAPTER 2—GOVERNMENT FUNDING on graduate medical education, outreach and TRANSPARENCY $3,577,845,000 from the Procurement; Re- supportive services designed to help individ- search, Development, Test and Evaluation; Chapter 2 of title VI is identical to the lan- uals get the medical care they need, and fos- and Defense Working Capital headings with- guage of H.R. 3928, ‘‘Government Funding ter care services. in chapter 1 of title IX of this Act. The sec- Transparency Act of 2007,’’ passed by the According to the Congressional Budget Of- tion also provides that the reduction shall be House on April 23, 2008 and was in the Senate fice (CBO), these regulatory changes would applied proportionally to each appropriation amendment adopted on May 22, 2008. It re- reduce Federal Medicaid spending by more account under such headings, and to each quires any company or organization receiv- than $17,500,000,000 over the next five years, program, project, and activity within each ing at least $25 million and 80 percent or such appropriation account. more of their revenue from federal payments shifting these costs to States and localities. These cuts would occur during an economic Section 8004 amends section 9310 of this to disclose the compensation of their most Act, which prohibits the obligation or ex- highly-compensated officers. downturn when States and localities are least able to restore services. Further, the penditure of funds available to the Depart- TITLE VII—MEDICAID PROVISIONS authorizing committees indicate that many ment of Defense to implement any final ac- Title VII of the amended bill includes lan- of these regulations alter longstanding Med- tion on joint basing initiatives. The amend- guage extending the current moratorium to icaid policy without specific Congressional ment excepts funds deposited in the Depart- April 2009 on four Medicaid regulations per- authorization. ment of Defense Base Closure Account 2005 taining to: graduate medical education pay- from this restriction. ments; limits on payments to government Additional time is required to examine the Section 8005 makes funds provided in Pub- safety net providers; rehabilitation services; potential impact of these regulations. Ac- lic Law 110–28, which remain available for and school-based administrative and special- cordingly, the amended bill includes obligation, within the operation and mainte- ized medical transportation services for chil- $5,000,000 for a study to be completed no later nance portion of the Defense Health Program dren. The amended bill also establishes a than September 2009 by an independent enti- for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and moratorium for the same period for two Med- ty to assess the prevalence of the problems Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) available for icaid regulations pertaining to: health care in the Medicaid program the regulations psychological health and traumatic brain in- provider taxes and targeted case manage- were intended to address and their impact on jury. ment. The cost of the moratoria is fully off- each State. The amended bill also includes Section 8006 provides that this Act may be set over five and ten years in the amended $25,000,000 for the purpose of reducing fraud referred to as the ‘‘Supplemental Appropria- bill by provisions that extend an asset and abuse in the Medicaid program. tions Act, 2008’’.

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DISCLOSURE OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED included in the House amendment discussed tained in the Senate-passed amendment. Nei- SPENDING ITEMS in this explanatory statement, along with ther the amendment nor the explanatory Following is a list of congressionally di- the name of the Senator who submitted a re- statement contains any limited tax benefits rected spending items (as defined in rule quest to the Committee of jurisdiction for or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate) the items so identified. The items were con- XLIV. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION [In thousands of dollars]

Account State Location Project Title Amount Requested By

Army ...... Alaska ...... Fort Wainwright ...... Child Development Center ...... 17,000 The Administration 1 Army ...... California ...... Fort Irwin ...... Child Development Center ...... 11,800 The Administration 1 Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Armory—5th Marine Regiment ...... 10,890 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Bachelor Quarters & Armory ...... 34,970 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Bachelor Quarters & Dining Facility ...... 24,390 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Company Headquarters—Military Police ...... 8,240 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Explosive Ordinance Detachment—Ops ...... 13,090 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance ...... 1,114 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Armory—Regimental & Battalion HQ ...... 5,160 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... Armory—Intelligence Battalion ...... 4,180 The President Navy ...... California ...... Camp Pendleton ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses ...... 9,270 The Administration 1 Navy ...... California ...... China Lake ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses ...... 7,210 The Administration 1 Navy ...... California ...... Point Mugu ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses ...... 7,250 The Administration 1 Navy ...... California ...... San Diego ...... Child Development Center ...... 17,930 The Administration 1 Navy ...... California ...... Twentynine Palms ...... Regimental Headquarters Addition ...... 4,440 The President Navy ...... California ...... Twentynine Palms ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses ...... 11,250 The Administration 1 Air Force ...... California ...... Beale AFB ...... Child Development Center ...... 17,600 The Administration 1 Army ...... Colorado ...... Fort Carson ...... Child Development Center ...... 8,400 The Administration 1 Army ...... Colorado ...... Fort Carson ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 8,100 The President Navy ...... Florida ...... Eglin AFB ...... JIEDDO Battle Course Additions ...... 780 The Administration 1 Air Force ...... Florida ...... Eglin AFB ...... Child Development Center ...... 11,000 The Administration 1 Army ...... Georgia ...... Fort Gordon ...... Child Development Center ...... 7,800 The Administration 1 Army ...... Georgia ...... Fort Stewart ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 6,000 The President Defense-Wide ...... Georgia ...... Fort Benning ...... Hospital Replacement ...... 350,000 ( 2 ) Army ...... Hawaii ...... Schofield Barracks ...... Child Development Center ...... 12,500 The Administration 1 Army ...... Kansas ...... Fort Riley ...... Transitioning Warrior Support Complex ...... 50,000 The President Defense-Wide ...... Kansas ...... Fort Riley ...... Hospital Replacement ...... 404,000 (2 ) Army ...... Kentucky ...... Fort Campbell ...... Child Development Center ...... 9,900 The Administration 1 Army ...... Kentucky ...... Fort Campbell ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 7,400 The President Army ...... Kentucky ...... Fort Knox ...... Child Development Center ...... 7,400 The Administration 1 Army ...... Louisiana ...... Fort Polk ...... Soldier Family Assistance Center ...... 4,900 The President Navy ...... Mississippi ...... Gulfport ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses ...... 6,570 The Administration 1 Army ...... Missouri ...... Fort Leonard Wood ...... Starbase Complex 6, Phase 1 ...... 50,000 ( 2 ) Air Force ...... New Jersey ...... McGuire AFB ...... JIEDDO Training Facility ...... 6,200 The Administration 1 Air Force ...... New Mexico ...... Cannon AFB ...... Child Development Center ...... 8,000 The Administration 1 Army ...... New York ...... Fort Drum ...... Warrior in Transition Facilities ...... 38,000 The President Army ...... North Carolina ...... Fort Bragg ...... Child Development Center ...... 8,500 The Administration 1 Navy ...... North Carolina ...... Camp Lejeune ...... Child Development Center ...... 16,000 The Administration 1 Navy ...... North Carolina ...... Camp Lejeune ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses ...... 11,980 The Administration 1 Navy ...... North Carolina ...... Camp Lejeune ...... Maintenance/Operations Complex ...... 43,340 The President Defense-Wide ...... North Carolina ...... Camp Lejeune ...... Hospital Addition/Alteration ...... 64,300 ( 2 ) Army ...... Oklahoma ...... Fort Sill ...... Child Development Center ...... 9,000 The Administration 1 Navy ...... South Carolina ...... Parris Island ...... Recruit Barracks ...... 25,360 ( 2 ) Army ...... Texas ...... Fort Bliss ...... Child Development Center ...... 5,700 The Administration 1 Army ...... Texas ...... Fort Bliss ...... Child Development Center ...... 5,900 The Administration 1 Army ...... Texas ...... Fort Bliss ...... Child Development Center ...... 5,700 The Administration 1 Army ...... Texas ...... Fort Hood ...... Child Development Center ...... 7,200 The Administration 1 Army ...... Texas ...... Fort Hood ...... Warrior in Transition Facilities ...... 9,100 The President Army ...... Texas ...... Fort Sam Houston ...... Child Development Center ...... 7,000 The Administration 1 Defense-Wide ...... Texas ...... Fort Sam Houston ...... Burn Rehab Unit ...... 21,000 The President Army ...... Virginia ...... Fort Lee ...... Child Development Center ...... 7,400 The Administration 1 Navy ...... Virginia ...... Yorktown ...... JIEDDO Battle Courses ...... 8,070 The Administration 1 Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Administrative Building ...... 13,800 The Administration 1 Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... New Roads ...... 27,000 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Ammunition Supply Point ...... 62,000 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Power Plant ...... 41,000 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Bulk Fuel Storage & Supply, Phase 3 ...... 23,000 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Bulk Fuel Storage & Supply, Phase 4 ...... 21,000 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Various Locations ...... CIED Road—Rte Alaska ...... 16,500 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Aircraft Maintenance Hangar ...... 5,100 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Ghazni ...... Rotary Wing Parking ...... 5,000 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Kabul ...... Consolidated Compound ...... 36,000 The President Army ...... Afghanistan ...... Various Locations ...... CIED Road—Rte Connecticut ...... 54,000 The President Air Force ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Strategic Ramp ...... 43,000 The President Air Force ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... Parallel Taxiway, Phase 2 ...... 21,400 The President Air Force ...... Afghanistan ...... Bagram ...... East Side Helo Ramp ...... 44,400 The President Air Force ...... Afghanistan ...... Kandahar ...... ISR Ramp ...... 26,300 The President Navy ...... Djibouti ...... Camp Lemonier ...... Network Infrastructure Expansion ...... 6,270 The President Navy ...... Djibouti ...... Camp Lemonier ...... Dining Facility ...... 20,780 The Administration 1 Navy ...... Djibouti ...... Camp Lemonier ...... Water Production ...... 19,140 The President Navy ...... Djibouti ...... Camp Lemonier ...... Full Length Taxiway ...... 15,490 The Administration 1 Navy ...... Djibouti ...... Camp Lemonier ...... Fuel Farm ...... 4,000 The Administration 1 Navy ...... Djibouti ...... Camp Lemonier ...... Western Taxiway ...... 2,900 The Administration 1 Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Adder ...... Petro Oil & Lubricant Storage ...... 10,000 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Adder ...... Waste Water Treatment & Collection ...... 9,800 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Adder ...... Convoy Support Center Relocation, Phase 2 ...... 39,000 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Al Asad ...... Landfill Construction ...... 3,100 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Al Asad ...... Hot Cargo Ramp ...... 18,500 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Al Asad ...... South Airfield Apron (India Ramp) ...... 28,000 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Anaconda ...... Landfill Construction ...... 6,200 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Anaconda ...... Hazardous Waste Incinerator ...... 4,300 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Constitution ...... Juvenile TIFRIC ...... 11,700 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Fallujah ...... Landfill Construction ...... 880 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Marez ...... Landfill Construction ...... 880 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Q-West ...... North Entry Control Point ...... 11,400 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Q-West ...... Perimeter Security Upgrade ...... 14,600 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Ramadi ...... Landfill Construction ...... 880 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Scania ...... Entry Control Point ...... 5,000 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Scania ...... Water Storage Tanks ...... 9,200 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Speicher ...... Military Control Point ...... 5,800 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Speicher ...... Landfill Construction ...... 5,900 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Speicher ...... Aviation Navigation Facilities ...... 13,400 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Taqqadum ...... Landfill Construction ...... 880 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Victory ...... Landfill Construction ...... 6,200 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Victory ...... Level 3 Hospital ...... 13,400 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Victory ...... Waste Water Treatment & Collection ...... 9,800 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Victory ...... Water Supply, Treatment & Storage, Phase 3 ...... 13,000 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Victory ...... Water Treatment & Storage, Phase 2 ...... 18,000 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Camp Warrior ...... Landfill Construction ...... 880 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Various Locations ...... Overhead Cover—eGlass ...... 30,000 The President Army ...... Iraq ...... Various Locations ...... Overhead Cover—eGlass, Phase 4 ...... 105,000 The President Air Force ...... Iraq ...... Balad AB ...... Helicopter Maintenance Facilities ...... 34,600 The President Air Force ...... Iraq ...... Balad AB ...... Foxtrot Taxiway ...... 12,700 The President

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Account State Location Project Title Amount Requested By

Air Force ...... Iraq ...... Balad AB ...... Fighter Ramp ...... 11,000 The President Army ...... Kuwait ...... Camp Arifjan ...... Communications Center ...... 30,000 The President Air Force ...... Kyrgyzstan ...... Manas AB ...... Strategic Ramp ...... 30,300 The President Air Force ...... Oman ...... Masirah AB ...... Expeditionary Beddown Site ...... 6,300 The Administration 1 Air Force ...... Qatar ...... Al Udeid ...... Facilities Replacement ...... 30,000 The Administration 1 Air Force ...... Qatar ...... Al Udeid ...... Close Air Support Parking Apron ...... 60,400 The Administration 1 Defense-Wide ...... Qatar ...... Al Udeid ...... Special Operations Forces Warehouse ...... 6,600 The President 1 These projects were requested by the Department of Defense subsequent to the submission of the President’s budget request and were not included in the official budget request. 2 These projects were added by the House Committee on Appropriations as a result of hearings, site visits, and departmental briefings on trainee and recruit facilities and medical treatment facilities.

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ITEMS

Account Project Funding Member

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT Corps of Engineers—Construction ...... In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Lake Ponchartrain and Vicinity, LA ...... $1,077,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter Corps of Engineers—Construction ...... In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, West Bank and Vicinity, LA ...... 920,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter Corps of Engineers—Construction ...... In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Southeast Louisiana, LA ...... 838,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 17th Street, Orleans, and London Avenue Canal pumps and closures, LA ..... 704,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Stormproofing interior pump stations, LA ...... 90,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Levee and critical element armoring, LA ...... 459,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Navigable closure at the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, LA ...... 53,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Incorporation of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, Non-Federal levee ...... 456,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, reinforcing or Replacing Floodwalls in the existing Lake Ponchartrain and 412,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. Vicinity, and West Bank and Vicinity Projects in New Orleans, LA. Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, repair and restoration of authorized protections and floodwalls in New Orle- 393,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. ans, LA. Corps of Engineers—Flood Control and Coastal Emer- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, complete authorized Lake Ponchartrain and Vicinity and West Bank and Vi- 359,000,000 The President, Senators Landrieu, Vitter gencies. cinity projects in New Orleans, LA. SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES Department of Housing and Urban Development: Perma- Permanent Supportive Housing vouchers for the State of Louisiana for elderly, disabled and other at-risk homeless 73,000,000 Senator Landrieu nent Supportive Housing. individuals directly impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, today, the sibilities, like completing 100 percent proposal, and increases the budget for Senate Appropriations Committee re- of statutory inspections, the Senate coal enforcement to $155 million. This ported the fiscal year 2009 Labor, Appropriations Committee increased is $4.4 million above the fiscal year 2008 Health and Human Services, Edu- funding for coal enforcement from $117 enacted level, and when you discount cation, and Related Agencies Appro- million in fiscal year 2006, to $150 mil- $6 million of one-time expenditures priations Act. In this bill, the Senate lion in fiscal year 2008. In May 2006, the last fiscal year, the total increase is Committee has continued its aggres- Senate Appropriations Committee also more than $10 million. sive efforts to improve the safety of directed MSHA to hire 170 new coal in- This funding would enable MSHA to miners in the coal fields. spectors and provided $25.6 million to continue to hire inspectors, specialists, After the deadly tragedy at the Sago accomplish that task. Since then, and support staff, and to implement Mine in 2006, the Congress passed the MSHA has hired 322 coal enforcement the MINER Act. It would also enable Mine Improvement and New Emer- personnel—increasing the number of MSHA to achieve 100 percent compli- gency Response, MINER, Act, which I inspectors from 587 in June 2006, to 750 ance with its statutory mandates. In was pleased to cosponsor. Among other in May 2008. addition, the fiscal year 2009 com- things, that bill required the imme- I also proudly note that the com- mittee-reported bill includes $2 million diate installation of emergency breath- mittee has added funding for mine safe- above the president’s budget request ing devices and also the installation of ty research at NIOSH, increasing to $50 for MSHA to minimize coal dust levels wireless communications and tracking million the budget for the development through increased spot inspections. equipment by June 2009. The MINER of health and safety technologies. The This is a new funding priority for the Act also required the Mine Safety and committee also provided $23 million in committee, in light of NIOSH reports Health Administration, MSHA, to draft the fiscal years 2006 and 2007 Supple- in 2007 about alarming clusters of rap- several new regulations, including mental Appropriations Acts in order to idly progressing black lung around rules on penalties, mine rescue teams, expedite the deployment of safety tech- southern West Virginia. The bill also and the sealing of abandoned areas. It nologies. With the funding the com- includes language requiring by March also required a report from the Na- mittee has provided since Sago, NIOSH 31, 2009, a report from MSHA on the tional Institute for Occupational Safe- has unveiled an improved self-con- feasibility and efficacy of MSHA as- ty and Health, NIOSH, on refuge alter- tained, self-rescuer, SCSR, that allows suming responsibility for collecting natives, as well as a report on belt-air miners to replace their oxygen supply dust samples and using single, full- ventilation and the fire-retardant prop- without removing their SCSR. NIOSH shift measurements instead of averages erties of belt materials from a tech- has also announced progress on more to ensure compliance with the law. nical study panel. I would note that durable and survivable communica- Mr. President, I praise the work of the Appropriations Committee in- tions systems, and completed critical the dedicated enforcement personnel cluded two amendments to the MINER studies of seals and refuge alternatives, laboring in the coal fields. With fund- Act in the fiscal year 2008 Omnibus ap- which MSHA has used as the basis for ing from the Appropriations Com- propriations bill directing MSHA to fi- its regulatory proposals. mittee, they have been working over- nalize regulations later this year that Having increased funding in previous time and putting in long and hard would implement the recommendations years, the Appropriations Committee hours. After too many years of neglect on refuge alternatives and belt safety focused this year on ensuring that the in the President’s budgets, I am proud provided by NIOSH and the Technical administration does not back away to note that there are visibly and no- Study Panel. MSHA issued the pro- from its commitment to mine safety. ticeably more inspectors in the coal posed rules this month for comment. In his fiscal year 2009 budget, President fields today, and additional inspectors In order to meet these new mandates Bush proposed cutting coal enforce- are on the way. That is real, tangible and so that MSHA can fulfill its other ment by $10 million. The committee-re- progress. We must continue it. The ar- important health and safety respon- ported fiscal year 2009 bill rejects this gument that MSHA can now afford to

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But 16 months have passed since As coal production increases across the through the fiscal year, yet Congress the President’s supplemental request Nation and MSHA struggles to imple- has provided less than one-third of the was submitted, and 6 months have ment the mandates of the MINER Act, funds requested for this emergency re- passed since the 2008 bills were enacted. the Congress must ensure sufficient sponse. Admiral Mullen said, and I In that time natural disasters have oc- funding to ensure that each and every quote, curred and additional disaster-related mandate of the Coal Act is enforced. I’m especially concerned about the avail- needs have become apparent. Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, over ability of funds into the Commander’s Emer- In March of this year, three barracks the past few months I have spoken sev- gency Response Program, authority for at Camp Shelby in Mississippi suffered eral times in this Chamber about the which expires next month. (The program) significant damage and destruction need to approve a supplemental request has proven in most cases more valuable and after violent weather. Fourteen sol- from the President for appropriations perhaps more rapid than bullets or bombs in diers were hospitalized; four of the sol- the fight against extremism . . . to fund activities and operations of the diers sustained serious injuries. Many Department of Defense. Progress on I worry that the Congress is becom- other structures were damaged. The this request has been terribly slow. It ing an impediment to the efficiency Senate-passed spending bill contained has now been more than 500 days since and the capability of our government, funding to rebuild these barracks, but the President submitted his request. and to our Department of Defense par- the continued delays in funding pre- In a hearing before the Defense Ap- ticularly. I worry that we are not act- vent this important work from being propriations Subcommittee last ing as expeditiously as we should to started. Floodwaters continue to in- month, Secretary of Defense Gates tes- protect our troops in the field that are flict damages to farms, homes, and tified that the military personnel ac- conducting dangerous missions. The businesses along the Mississippi River. counts that pay our soldiers, and the delays we have experienced with this There is little question that additional operations and maintenance accounts supplemental were as unnecessary as resources will be required to respond to that fund readiness, training and sala- they are inexcusable. this continuing disaster. ries of civilian employees were running I am also disappointed that the sup- I am speaking today in part to draw dry. Secretary Gates has been able to plemental before the Senate means attention to what I feel has been a poor forestall this depletion of funds for a that the gulf coast’s ongoing recovery performance by Congress on this bill. short period of time, but only by em- from Hurricane Katrina will be slowed. But I also come to the floor because ploying measures that are disruptive to Mississippi’s gulf coast suffered tre- there is no other venue to express my the operations and management of the mendous devastation as Senators know views on the supplemental. There was Department of Defense. as a result of Hurricane Katrina. There no conference committee appointed to Secretary Gates has had to transfer was significant loss of life as well as resolve differences between the House funding from Air Force, Navy and Ma- significant damage to property. In last and Senate. There were no meetings of rine accounts to the Army to enable year’s supplemental spending bill, the the chairmen and ranking members of the Army to meet its military and ci- Congress tasked the U.S. Army Corps the Appropriations Committees or of vilian payroll, and to fund current op- of Engineers to recommend measures the subcommittees involved. And there erations. It is incredible to think that to protect the Mississippi gulf coast has been virtually no opportunity for to be able to pay military personnel from future storms. The Corps of Engi- Members of this body to offer amend- who are on the frontlines, engaged in neers has drafted its recommendations, ments to the bill. I regret that. It is combat, the Secretary of Defense has and the Senate responded by including not the way we should discharge our had to transfer funding between ac- funding for these important Corps-rec- responsibilities. I think there is little counts because the Congress will not ommended projects in our version of question that had we followed regular act on a supplemental request that has the supplemental appropriations bill. order we could have enacted a supple- been pending for almost a year and a One of the projects included in the mental a month ago, and spared our half. Senate-passed supplemental is the res- men and women in the field a great The delay in providing supplemental toration of Mississippi’s Barrier Is- deal of uncertainty. funding has caused the Defense Depart- lands. These islands, which are feder- I support this supplemental and urge ment to divert thousands of man hours ally owned, suffered terrible damage my colleagues to do the same, but hope from focusing on how best to support after Hurricane Camille in 1969 and are that we can do better next time. our men and women in uniform to fig- now so vulnerable that even a rel- Mr. REID. Mr President, momen- uring out how to cash flow the Defense atively small hurricane may destroy tarily, the Senate will move to pass the Department so our men and women in them completely. These are my State’s domestic portion of the emergency sup- uniform will receive a paycheck. We last line of defense before a major hur- plemental appropriations bill. will probably never know how many ricane moves inland. Continued delay After months of negotiation, I am millions of dollars have been wasted leaves my state more vulnerable. confident that we will pass this legisla- during this shell game. And we will The Corps of Engineers also con- tion by an overwhelming bipartisan probably never know how many sailors, cluded that homeowner relocation as- margin. soldiers, airmen or marines have been sistance would be the most effective al- For our troops, for the unemployed, put at greater risk because Defense De- ternative for reducing the risk from fu- and for those who have suffered from partment leaders and managers have ture hurricane surge events by relo- natural disasters and economic hard- had to shift their attention from sup- cating structures and population cen- ship, this legislation is a long-overdue porting the warfighter to figuring out ters from the high risk zones. This vol- victory. how to make the payroll, or deciding untary program would assist those who I am glad we have reached this point, what activities are ‘‘exempt’’ from ces- are looking to locate outside the high- but it has not come easily. sation because the Department’s fund- hazard area. It is vital not only to re- My colleagues will recall that when ing has been depleted. covery but also for protection from a President Bush requested yet another The delay in providing funding for future disaster. We are now in the supplemental war funding bill, he said our troops has disrupted operations in midst of another hurricane season, and to Congress—give me my war money Afghanistan as well as Iraq. Admiral every day this Congress does not act is and not a penny more. Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint 1 more day that Mississippians are at He said that even after appropriating Chiefs of Staff, testified at a Defense risk. $660 billion for war, any effort by Con- Appropriations Subcommittee hearing Unfortunately, all of these items gress to address our needs here at home that during his visit to the front lines were dropped from the bill by the other would be met with a veto. he learned that the soldiers were un- body, and because of the long delay in Some of our Republican colleagues able to allocate funds from the Com- acting on the supplemental there is said—why bother trying—why take the

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:30 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26JN6.088 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE S6264 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 time to legislate—when the President state public school, plus books and a bill does not include extra benefits for has made his veto plans clear? stipend for housing. states with high unemployment rates, I Our answer then was it is our job to For those who have said it costs too believe this unemployment insurance legislate. much, I say our troops have more than extension, or benefits of an additional The Constitution calls for three sepa- earned it. 13 weeks for all States, is an important rate but equal branches of government. And every dollar we invest in edu- step forward. If the trend of rising un- A President’s veto threat must not cating our veterans today comes back employment rates continues, it is my stop us from doing what we think is to our economy seven times over. hope that Congress will consider an- right. But, new GI bill is not the only im- other emergency unemployment insur- So we did not blink or back down. We portant investment this supplemental ance package that will do more to help said that after $600 billion spent on legislation makes. states struggling with the highest Iraq, it is long past time to take care It also extends unemployment insur- rates of unemployment. of some problems right here in Amer- ance for all states by 13 weeks and an The Nation’s unemployment rate ica. additional 13 weeks for States with the jumped to 5.5 percent in May from 5 We did exactly what the Congress is highest unemployment. percent in April—the biggest jump in 1 meant to do: we legislated. We nego- The Congressional Budget Office and month in 22 years. Since the beginning tiated. We compromised. many economists say that extending of the Bush administration, Michigan And because we did, we now stand unemployment insurance is among the has suffered significant jobs losses and ready to deliver a major victory for the most effective steps we can take to the State’s unemployment rate has in- American people. stimulate the economy. creased from 4.5 percent in January After months of inching ever closer— We have talked for months about the 2001 to 8.5 percent in May of this year, despite some Republicans who said it need to help struggling Americans keep the highest unemployment rate in the wasn’t worth the cost—we are deliv- their heads above water as our econ- Nation. Michigan has not seen an un- ering a new GI bill to our courageous omy continues to flounder. We could employment rate this high since Octo- troops. have passed this extension months ago, ber of 1992. For too long, the adminis- Some on the other side of the aisle but passing it today is an important tration has stood idle as 3.3 million started out opposing this effort. My step. manufacturing jobs have been lost, and Republican colleagues from Arizona, This supplemental appropriations as working families have felt the South Carolina, and North Carolina op- bill also: Provides long overdue assist- squeeze of the rising costs of energy, posed it, apparently because they and ance to victims of Hurricane Katrina health care and food. An estimated others felt it was too generous to the with matching funds for levee con- 428,000 Michigan residents were unem- troops who serve. struction, law enforcement, hospitals, ployed in May. Between May 2007 and They pursued their own bill, which in homelessness and reconstruction May of this year, over 170,000 residents my view was but a pale shadow of the projects in Mississippi; comes to the exhausted their unemployment bene- GI bill we vote on tonight. aid of victims of other natural disas- fits and could not find jobs. This year, It would have fallen far short of pro- ters like floods and droughts that have on average each month about 15,000 viding our troops what they deserve. In devastated certain crops; rolls back the more Michigan residents face this same the face of their opposition, we per- Bush administration’s attempts to reg- predicament. sisted. President Bush’s opposition to an ex- President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ulate Medicaid into oblivion by block- tension of unemployment benefits is signed the original GI bill into law 64 ing six of seven administration regula- apparently based on his belief that, years ago. tions aimed at depriving children, the somehow, the availability of unem- He said at the time that the bill elderly and people with disabilities of ployment benefits would discourage ‘‘Gives emphatic notice to the men and critical services; and, this legislation people from looking for a job. I am dis- women in our Armed Forces that the invests in a variety of other critical appointed that President Bush would American people do not intend to let priorities, including infrastructure re- repeat this tired and inaccurate excuse them down.’’ pair, food and drug safety, and fire- Since President Roosevelt affixed his fighters’ assistance. for failing to provide Americans the name to that historic legislation, near- It is no secret that many Demo- help they need in these tough times. ly 8 million veterans have advanced crats—myself included—wish that The devastating reality is that about their education, gotten better jobs, and there was no such thing as an emer- 7.6 million Americans are unemployed blazed a path to a brighter future for gency supplemental appropriations and cannot find jobs, not because they themselves and their families. bill. are refusing to look, but because the Those 8 million men and women have We wish that the urgent domestic labor market simply does not have the gone on to become teachers, doctors, needs of the American people had been jobs. Millions of workers have been entrepreneurs and public servants. addressed by President Bush and fund- searching for a job for over 6 months, Several of our colleagues are among ed in the ordinary budget process. to no avail. The number of long-term them—DAN AKAKA, CHUCK HAGEL, DAN And we wish that the $660 billion we unemployed workers is now higher INOUYE, FRANK LAUTENBERG, TED STE- have already spent on the war in Iraq than when it was when we provided an VENS, JOHN WARNER and JIM WEBB. could have gone toward eliminating unemployment insurance extension in I don’t think it is presumptuous to our record deficit, and investing in 2002. The high rate of unemployment say that each one of them would credit schools, hospitals, roads, job training has disproportionately affected vet- the GI bill as one reason for what they and public safety. erans, minorities, and young people. have achieved. But despite the crushing weight of a While Americans continue to search In his time, President Roosevelt war that will cost us well more than $2 high and low for a job, their unemploy- promised to never let our troops down, trillion when all is said and done—it is ment benefits are running out. and today we stand poised to renew and our responsibility to always put the Our people face tremendous economic reinvigorate his pledge. needs of the American people first. pressures, from a rate of home fore- The new GI bill will increase edu- This supplemental appropriations closures that is up 130 percent from cational benefits for all members of the bill fulfills that responsibly. I urge all 2006, soaring costs of health care, to military who have served on active of my colleagues to support it. skyrocketing prices for food and gas. duty since September 11, including re- Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I strongly Unfortunately, this situation is un- servists and National Guard. support the extension of unemploy- likely to improve soon. Since President The years since September 11 have ment insurance benefits. Extending un- Bush took office, the price of health in- seen our troops strained to a level not employment insurance benefits would surance is up 44 percent, the price of seen since Vietnam, so these benefits fairly and rightly extend much needed college tuition is up 47 percent, the are hard-earned and well-deserved. assistance to Americans who are strug- price of gas is up 95 percent, the Fed- This new GI bill so covers college ex- gling to find jobs. While I was dis- eral debt has almost doubled and the penses to match the full cost of an in- appointed that the provision in this dollar has lost a third of its value.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:30 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JN6.071 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE June 26, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6265 Meanwhile, American families are have lost homes or suffered other force are enhanced through higher edu- facing a cost crunch. According to a harm. cation. While these provisions should study by a prominent Harvard Law I joined a number of my colleagues have been paid for, passing them is the School professor, the median household from affected States in asking that least we can do for a brave generation income fell by $1,175, in 2007 dollars, be- flood relief money be included in the of Americans who have served their tween 2000 and 2006. During that same supplemental, and I am very pleased to country honorably. period, consumer expenditures for basic support the $2.65 billion in disaster re- There are other provisions in the family needs such as mortgage pay- lief in the amendment for States suf- amendment that I support, including a ments, gas, food, phone bills, household fering from record flooding. I cannot moratorium on six rules proposed by appliances, and health insurance in- emphasize enough how crucial this dis- the administration that would under- creased by $3,552, also in 2007 dollars. aster relief is to the people of Wis- mine the Medicaid Program. I am dis- Available data in 2008 suggest that the consin. Beginning on June 5, Wisconsin appointed, however, that the bill no cost of basic needs has continued to in- was struck by 7 to 9 inches of rain that longer includes vital funding for Byrne crease since 2006, and, between a lower fell over a 24-hour period, followed by grants, LIHEAP and other domestic real income and higher basic costs, destructive winds and tornadoes. So priorities. And I continue to be ex- families are facing as much as a $5,700 far, 28 counties in Wisconsin have been tremely disappointed at the willingness shortfall, as compared with 2000 fig- declared disaster areas and we expect of too many of my colleagues to pro- ures. that at least 2 more will be declared vide the President with funds to con- Extending unemployment insurance disasters shortly. This water is drain- tinue the misguided war in Iraq. While during times of recession is nothing ing into the Mississippi as we speak that funding is not included in the new. In the past 30 years, Congress has and has inundated communities amendment we will vote on today, I acted three times to establish tem- throughout Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Mis- will continue to oppose efforts to fund porary extended unemployment bene- souri and surrounding States. a war that is damaging our national se- fits, each time during a recession. On With damage assessments underway, curity. average, the length of time that Ameri- over $400 million of damage has been Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, the cans have struggled to get by without a identified in the State of Wisconsin spending bill we consider today con- job is longer than it has been in the 30 alone. Over 15,000 residents have reg- tains many provisions that address ur- years since Congress first extended un- istered for individual assistance in the gent needs facing our Nation’s econ- employment insurance benefits. 22 declared Wisconsin counties. An es- omy, our Nation’s families, and our Na- Extending unemployment insurance timated 4,000 wells have been contami- tion’s troops. during tough times is one of the most nated. The damage to crops will be con- Among the most important, this leg- effective ways to stimulate the econ- siderable. We have not seen devasta- islation extends unemployment insur- omy, dollar for dollar, and this money tion like this in my State since 1993. ance benefits at a time where too many can be distributed within weeks. Ex- The assistance provided in this Americans are struggling to find jobs, tending unemployment insurance is es- amendment will go a long way to help it postpones six Medicaid regulations sential to provide much-needed support families and businesses get back on that would have impeded access to to those who have lost their jobs and their feet, but additional funds may be health care for those who need it most, are struggling to reenter the job mar- needed down the road. I will continue and it provides veterans returning from ket. Workers who receive these unem- to work with my colleagues in the Sen- Iraq and Afghanistan with a new level ployment benefits are likely to spend ate to ensure that the Federal Govern- of educational benefits that will cover them quickly, making this one of the ment’s response is prompt and com- the full costs of an education at a fastest ways to infuse money into our plete. State institution. economy in the short term. I am also pleased that this amend- We have an obligation to respond to I supported an economic stimulus ment provides thirteen weeks of ex- the growing economic crisis and the package considered in the Senate, tended unemployment insurance bene- needs it has created for American fami- which included important provisions fits to workers who have exhausted lies. People are losing their homes and including an unemployment insurance their regular unemployment insurance their jobs, and along with those jobs, extension. Unfortunately, this legisla- benefits. At this critical time in our their health care. Since March 2007, the tion was blocked due to a filibuster by Nation’s economy, it is important that number of unemployed has increased Senate Republicans. It was deeply dis- Congress do what it can for workers by 1.1 million workers. We learned a appointing that the Senate was forced and families who are struggling. Ear- few weeks ago that the unemployment to pass a short-term stimulus package lier this month, the Department of rate in our country shot up by a half a that did not include an unemployment Labor released its unemployment fig- point, from approximately 5 to 5.5 per- insurance extension. On May 22, 2008, ures for the month of May showing a 1- cent. The Baltimore Sun reported last the Senate overwhelmingly supported month increase of half a percentage week that the Goodwill Industries of an amendment to the Emergency Sup- point in the unemployment rate to 5.5 the Chesapeake’s Baltimore center has plemental bill that included a 13-week percent, which was one of the biggest 1- seen an estimated 50 percent increase extension for unemployment benefits, month increases in over two decades. I in clients seeking job placement assist- with an additional 13 weeks for states joined a number of my Senate col- ance. like Michigan with high levels of un- leagues in requesting an extension of This bill includes provisions that re- employment. While the latter impor- unemployment benefits as part of the spond to these growing needs. It ex- tant provision is not included in the stimulus package Congress passed ear- tends unemployment benefits by 13 bill before us, I believe Congress must lier this year due to the fact that in- weeks for all the Nation’s workers. Ex- act with urgency to provide an emer- creasing unemployment benefits has a tending unemployment insurance this gency unemployment extension and high stimulative effect on the econ- way helps families. That is critically therefore I support this legislation. omy. It is clear that an extension of important. But it will also help our Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I sup- unemployment benefits is needed in economy. Economists estimate that port the amendment to the emergency our States and local communities now. every dollar spent on benefits leads to supplemental funding bill that provides I strongly support the provisions of $1.64 in economic growth. With this ex- needed assistance for Wisconsin and this amendment that update the GI bill tension, we will provide critical stim- other flood-stricken Midwestern to provide comprehensive educational ulus to our slowing economy. States, unemployed workers, and vet- benefits for this generation of veterans. The bill also extends a freeze on six erans. This legislation will help thousands of Medicaid rules issued by the adminis- As a result of the horrifying floods servicemembers transition back to ci- tration that would have put a tremen- that have ravaged the Midwest over vilian life as they return from demand- dous burden on State and local budgets the last 3 weeks, a number of people ing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. It already under pressure and affected ac- have lost their lives, including two will also benefit the entire Nation as cess to services for many Marylanders residents of Wisconsin, and many more veterans’ contributions to the work- and Americans all around the country.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:30 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26JN6.109 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE S6266 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 26, 2008 I want to talk about the impact of the National Institutes of Health, the Brookhaven National Laboratory and just two of those rules: one that would National Science Foundation, the Na- will work with him to attempt to ad- eliminate Medicaid coverage of trans- tional Aeronautics and Space Adminis- dress these issues if a long-term con- portation services required by students tration, and the Department of Energy. tinuing resolution becomes a reality. with special needs and the second that At a time we are all avoiding tomatoes, Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today would change benefits for case manage- this bill makes a major investment in to discuss the emergency supplemental ment services that help some of our food safety by providing additional re- bill that we are considering in the Sen- most vulnerable individuals access sources to the Food and Drug Adminis- ate. needed medical, social, and educational tration. I want to commend my colleagues This new version of the emergency services. In addition to impeding ac- supplemental bill represents a change cess to care, these two rules alone who refused to give up on these prior- ities even in the face of initial opposi- from the previous version. It is less ex- would have cost Maryland $67 million pensive—$3 billion less in domestic, in their first year. I was a proud co- tion and a veto threat from our Presi- dent. I am encouraged that we may nonmilitary spending that didn’t be- sponsor of S. 2819 that would have pro- long in this bill in the first place. hibited the Secretary of Health and have a chance in the near future to act The bill is also better for overall de- Human Services from implementing on other domestic priorities including fense than the last version. I am speak- these rules and am glad to see that a increased energy assistance to low-in- ing of the GI bill provisions in this leg- moratorium on these rules will become come Americans facing skyrocketing fuel prices and commercial fishery dis- islation. Changes have been made to law. I am especially pleased to support aster assistance that could help Mary- try and address the transferability of provisions that provide veterans re- land’s watermen. benefits. These changes also attempt to Former President John F. Kennedy turning from Iraq and Afghanistan deal with the concern the Department said, ‘‘To govern is to choose.’’ In this with a new level of educational bene- of Defense raised about the retention of bill, this Congress is choosing to fits that will cover the full costs of an our servicemembers by requiring ex- prioritize those issues that affect education at a State institution. Some tended service for extended transfer- Americans’ lives every day, our access of my colleagues have argued that the able benefits. It does not fully address to jobs, to health care, to education, to benefit is too generous. But this coun- the concerns, but it is a step forward. safe food. I am proud to offer this bill Congressional leaders have sat down try provided our troops a similar op- my support. portunity after World War II. That in- with the administration and developed NATIONAL SYNCHROTRON LIGHT SOURCE II vestment created a generation of great a bill that President Bush can sign. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise leaders and an economic boom that I recently had the opportunity to ad- today to ask my colleague, the chair- transformed our country. dress Wyoming’s American Legion con- man of the Energy and Water Appro- A new GI bill allows a new genera- vention in Riverton, WY. They support priations Subcommittee, about a mat- tion of brave men and women to fulfill improvements in the GI bill but never ter that may become an issue if we do their dreams and adjust to civilian life. want to see any veterans, from World not pass the fiscal year 2009 appropria- Just today a young man came into my War II to our current operation, be tions bills in a timely manner. As you office, a Maryland National Guards- used for gotcha politics. I think they know, there are several critically im- man, who had served two tours of duty will be pleased that changes and im- portant projects in the Department of in Iraq. While overseas on his second provements were made. Energy’s Office of Science budget in tour, he missed the birth of his first various stages of development. One of This isn’t a perfect bill. There is still child. Now that he is home, he wants to the projects is the National Synchro- some overspending on non-military pursue an education. Although inter- tron Light Source II at Brookhaven matters. The bill was force fed through ested in a program at my State’s flag- National Laboratory. This project is in the process. Amendments that could ship institution, the University of the design phase and is expected to improve the bill further were shunned Maryland at College Park, the tuition begin construction in the early part of by the majority leadership. was beyond his means and he enrolled 2009. The fact remains, however, that we in a community college instead where The fiscal year 2008 Omnibus appro- need to fund our troops. We need to he will shortly complete his associate’s priations bill provided approximately provide our men and women in uniform degree program. He came into my of- $20 million less than the budget re- with the best possible equipment and fice to explain his situation and ask quest, and the fiscal year 2009 budget the funding they need to do their job whether there was any way we could request has a substantial increase, fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghani- help him continue his education at a 4- which is consistent with the funding stan. We have a responsibility to make year institution. profile. I am concerned about the im- this happen in an expeditious manner. That is an opportunity we owe the pact a continuing resolution for several Sending this legislation to President service men and women, including acti- months may have on the schedule and Bush is the only way that will happen vated reservists and National Guard, overall cost for the National Synchro- and so I will support the supplemental who this administration has asked to tron Light Source II project. One issue bill. serve extended and repeated combat is that under a continuing resolution The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under tours. I am so proud that we will live less money would be available than if up to that obligation today. But a new the previous order, the question is on the budget request were enacted. A agreeing to the motion to concur. GI bill is also a wise investment; it al- more pressing issue is that under some Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask lows our economy to fully benefit from previous continuing resolution rules for the yeas and nays on the motion to these veterans’ talent, leadership, and construction would not be allowed to concur. experience. begin as that would be a new activity. There are other critical provisions in Could my colleague please comment The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a this bill. It provides funding to address on these matters? sufficient second? the devastating Midwest flooding and Mr. DORGAN. I thank the gentleman There is a sufficient second. other natural disasters. It addresses from New York for the question. There The clerk will call the roll. critical quality of life and medical care are several projects in the Office of The legislative clerk called the roll. issues for our troops including funding Science and in the Department of En- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the to improve barracks, build VA hos- ergy that are in various stages of plan- Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. KEN- pitals and polytrauma centers, and cre- ning, design, and construction. Like ate new military child care centers. It the National Synchrotron Light Source NEDY) is necessarily absent. provides the funding we need to imple- II project, these other projects may Mr. KYL. The following Senator is ment the 2005 BRAC recommendations. also be impacted if a long-term con- necessarily. absent: the Senator from The bill makes critical investments tinuing resolution is enacted. Arizona (Mr. MCCAIN). to improve our competitiveness by I very much appreciate my col- The result was announced—yeas 92, funding research and other programs at league’s concern about the project at nays 6, as follows:

VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:36 Jun 27, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26JN6.089 S26JNPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with SENATE June 26, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6267 [Rollcall Vote No. 162 Leg.] wake up very unhappy in the morning bring them up to the standards that YEAS—92 if Senator MURKOWSKI objects to this were promised decades ago, if that Akaka Dorgan Mikulski bill. Her substitute was never voted on promise is going to be kept. Alexander Durbin Murkowski by the committee. This bill gets us part of the way Barrasso Ensign Murray As a matter of fact, the individual there, but we still have an awfully long Baucus Enzi Nelson (FL) she asked to offer an amendment never way to go. In the underlying bill we Bayh Feingold Nelson (NE) Bennett Feinstein Obama offered it. There was a reason; this was passed, in large measure crafted by Biden Graham Pryor a delicate compromise. House leadership—and I am dis- Bingaman Grassley Reed I object to Senator MURKOWSKI’s appointed in this view of the House Bond Gregg Reid amendment to the request. I support leadership—they put in only a portion Boxer Hagel Roberts Brown Harkin of the very critical levee funding that Rockefeller strongly Senator NELSON’s request to Brownback Hatch Salazar move this Clean Boating Act. It means is needed for us to go forward, to re- Bunning Hutchison Sanders store these levees to 100-year flood pro- Burr Inhofe that 13 million recreational boaters Schumer Byrd Inouye will not have to get a permit to dis- tection. I don’t know how to explain Cantwell Isakson Sessions charge their water pollution, and 13 this, but 100-year flood protection is Cardin Johnson Shelby Smith million recreational boaters are count- the bare minimum for the United Carper Kerry States. There are a few areas that are Casey Klobuchar Snowe ing on us. Chambliss Kohl Specter I hope Senator NELSON’s unanimous enjoying 200- and 300-year flood protec- Clinton Landrieu Stabenow consent will be granted. tion in this country, but very few. Most Cochran Lautenberg Stevens do not have, as you can tell by the Coleman Leahy Sununu The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Collins Levin Tester objection to the original unanimous flooding going on now in States such as Conrad Lieberman Thune consent from the senior Senator from Missouri and Iowa and parts of Illinois, Corker Lincoln Vitter Florida? most places don’t have the 100-year Cornyn Lugar Warner protection. Crapo Martinez Webb Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I Dodd McCaskill Whitehouse do object. For a reference point, I wish to im- Dole McConnell Wicker The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- press upon my colleagues that this is a Domenici Menendez Wyden tion is heard. minimum standard. The country of the NAYS—6 The Senator from Louisiana is recog- Netherlands, which is so small it could Allard Craig Kyl nized. fit inside of Louisiana, a powerful Coburn DeMint Voinovich Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, the economy but a small nation, has flood NOT VOTING—2 evening is getting late, and we have protection for its people against storms that happen once every 10,000 years. Kennedy McCain taken some significant action tonight. But I wish to speak for a moment and We, the United States of America, can- The motion was agreed to. ask unanimous consent to speak up to not claim that we have flood protec- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under 10 minutes on the supplemental bill. tion for 99 percent of our people the previous order, the motion to re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without against floods once every 100 years. I consider is made and laid upon the objection, it is so ordered. am going to say again, as I have said table. f 100 times on this floor, incremental The Senator from Florida is recog- funding, nickles and dimes, a few hun- nized. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS dred million here or there, is not going f Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, we to get the job done. In the long run, it passed, by an overwhelming margin, a is going to cost the American taxpayer UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST— supplemental emergency spending bill billions and billions of dollars more. S. 2766 that will fund our ongoing operations So here we go again, after the flood, Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. Presi- in Iraq and in other parts of the world after the storm, after the promises, dent, I ask unanimous consent that the and will send some money stateside. after the speeches, after the lights, Senate proceed to the immediate con- In the view of this Senator, we have after the photographs, the bill is sideration of Calendar No. 832, S. 2766, shortchanged, even with our good ef- passed, but we do not have the whole the Clean Boating Act, the bill be read fort that was just made, shortchanged amount of money necessary to recon- a third time and passed, and the mo- some real ongoing serious emergencies struct the levees as promised by the tion to reconsider be laid upon the here at home. President and as spoken to on numer- table with no intervening action or de- As far as the gulf coast is concerned, ous occasions by many Members of the bate. I voted for the bill because I have al- House and Senate. We do have $5.8 bil- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there ways believed that half a loaf is better lion in this bill, $1.16 billion for the objection? than none. Lake Pontchartrain vicinity which is a Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, re- In the bill, in large measure because long, ongoing project, I think started serving the right to object, I ask that of the work of Members on both sides back in the 1960s. We do have $920 mil- the unanimous consent request be of the aisle, we have a significant lion in for west bank levee which was modified, that my amendment which is amount of money toward the construc- started back in the 1960s. We have $967 at the desk be agreed to, and that the tion of levees that failed and put a million in the southeast Louisiana bill be read a third time and passed. great city and region and regions flood control project that was started Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, reserv- throughout the gulf coast at risk, par- in the 1990s. We have $2.9 billion of ing the right to object, I think the Sen- ticularly the New Orleans metropolitan flood control and emergency projects, ator from Alaska knows full well the area. I know people get tired of review- modifying drainage canals, installing amendment she is seeking to attach to ing the details, but less than 3 years pumps, armoring levees, improving our bill, or the substitute she is put- ago, several significant levees along protection at the inner harbor canal, ting forward, never was approved in the the great port system in the city of federalizing certain non-Federal levees committee of jurisdiction, the EPW New Orleans, levees that should have in Plaquemine Parish, the long parish Committee. held collapsed, and 80 percent of the that sits at the toe of the boot in Lou- The committee worked long and hard city went under water. The water is isiana, reinforces and replaces at getting a compromise. Because of long gone, but the pain is still there. floodwalls, repairs and restores Senator NELSON and Senator MARTINEZ The rebuilding is still going on. The floodwalls. The problem is the match and others, we have a bill at the desk anxiety of homeowners, renters, small that is required because of the House that Senator NELSON tried to get done business owners and large business action. The Senate reduced the match now that passed our committee by an owners, and industrial investors is still required by the State of Louisiana and overwhelming vote. there, questioning whether the Federal extended our payment terms. Instead As a matter of fact, 13 million boat- Government’s commitment to not only of requiring the State of Louisiana to ers, 13 million boaters are going to fix the levees, restore the levees and pay a higher level of 35 percent, the

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