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| House Passes $513B Wartime Defense Bill | |
| 2006-05-12 | |
| WASHINGTON (AP) - The House on Thursday approved a $512.9 billion military bill that addresses a host of concerns arising from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, from combatting makeshift roadside bombs to equipping more vehicles and troops with armor. Passed on a 396-31 vote, the measure includes a plan to spend $50 billion for the first part of next year's war costs. ``The theme of the bill this year was troop protection,'' said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the House Armed Services Committee chairman. ``It gives the tools to the troops in the war on terror that they need.'' ``With this bill, we continue to support them by providing equipment, training, resources and peace of mind for their families,'' added Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, the committee's top Democrat. Even though many supported the bill, Democrats were angry that Republican leaders prevented the House from debating some amendments, and they used procedural maneuvers to delay work on the bill for a few hours in protest. At least one of those Democratic amendments would have addressed the status of U.S. troops in Iraq.
On a voice vote, the House added a provision Thursday that would require jamming devices on all military vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan outside of a military compound by Sept. 30, 2007. Additionally, the bill would let the services spend far more money than Bush sought to continue putting armor on Humvees and providing body armor for troops. It also would devote more dollars to war-zone equipment, such as night-vision devices. The Pentagon would be allowed to spend more money on weapons involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, such as M-1 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. The bill also directs the Pentagon to increase the number of F-22 aircraft and submarines being built. At the same time, the bill would slice millions of dollars from plans for new weapons systems - the Joint Strike Fighter and the Future Combat System - as well as for the presidential helicopter and the ballistic missile defense program. Against administration wishes, the bill says the Navy must have 12 aircraft carriers. It also requires the Air Force to maintain a fleet of 44 combat-ready B-52 bombers until 2018 or until a comparable long-range strike aircraft is developed. House lawmakers also want to give survivors of slain civilian Defense Department employees a $100,000 death benefit that's currently available to families of service members killed in combat zones since Oct. 7, 2001. The administration opposes that plan. It also objects to House plans for a 2.7 percent pay raise for military personnel, which is 0.5 percent above Bush's request. Additionally, it opposes a provision that requires the Army to maintain an active-duty force of at least 504,400 and the Marine Corps to maintain one of 180,000. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 Every Congressman a General. |
| Posted by: Gleresing Jomolet9901 2006-05-12 18:06 |
| #5 How much are they spending on Giant Killer Robots? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-05-12 17:56 |
| #4 my congressman, God love him! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-12 13:57 |
| #3 Duncan Hunter may be the only good person coming from KALIpornia |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-05-12 12:59 |
| #2 60% + for pay, housing, health care, and benefits. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-05-12 12:00 |
| #1 big money |
| Posted by: bk 2006-05-12 11:37 |