Text 2841, 153 rader
Skriven 2006-06-15 23:34:08 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060615f) for Thu, 2006 Jun 15
====================================================
===========================================================================
Fact Sheet: President Signs Emergency Funding Bill
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 15, 2006

Fact Sheet: President Signs Emergency Funding Bill



Fiscally Responsible Bill Funds War on Terror, Hurricane Relief, Border
Security, and Avian Flu Preparations

Today, President Bush signed legislation to provide emergency funding for
the War on Terror, hurricane relief, border security, and pandemic
influenza preparations.ÿThe President is committed to giving our commanders
and troops in the field the resources they need to fight the War on Terror,
and this bill continues that commitment.ÿ It also follows through on the
President_s commitment to help Gulf Coast families rebuild, funds the
President_s border security initiatives as part of his efforts to enact
comprehensive immigration reform, and provides necessary funding to prepare
for a possible flu pandemic.

A Fiscally Responsible Bill.ÿThe President promised to veto a bill that
exceeded his funding request.ÿ The Administration worked closely with
Congress to ensure that the bill holds the line on spending while providing
for emergency needs.ÿ Highlights of the $94.5 billion in emergency funding
include:

Fighting the War on Terror: $70.4 billion
  þ 

    Ongoing Military Operations.ÿThe President is committed to providing
    our troops with the resources and equipment they need.ÿ The bill
    provides more than $43.5 billion for ongoing military activities in
    Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.ÿ
  þ 

    Ensuring Our Armed Forces Remain Well-Equipped and Organized.ÿReplacing
    equipment: $15.6 billion to replace equipment worn-out or lost in
    battle, reorganize Army units for maximum effectiveness, and obtain new
    combat capabilities such as advanced night-vision equipment,
    counter-mortar and rocket systems, and new vehicle armor.ÿ Protecting
    our Troops: $2 billion for more effective countermeasures against
    road-side bombs and other Improvised Explosive Devices.
  þ 

    Supporting an Effective Diplomatic Presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    $1.5 billion for the extraordinary security and operating costs in
    support of U.S. diplomatic activity in Iraq and Afghanistan.ÿ
  þ 

    Promoting Democracy, Peace, and Stability.ÿStability in Afghanistan and
    Iraq: $4.9 billion to train and equip Afghan and Iraqi security forces
    to assume the lead in the counterinsurgency, and $1.6 billion to help
    Iraq and Afghanistan strengthen their economies, weaken the insurgency,
    and build the civilian capabilities required to transition to
    self-reliance.ÿ Humanitarian relief: $393 million for humanitarian and
    peacekeeping needs in Darfur and South Sudan; and Promoting Democracy:
    $66 million for assistance programs and public diplomacy activities
    that promote democracy and human rights in Iran.

Helping Families and Communities Rebuild from Last Year_s Hurricanes: $19.8
billion
  þ 

    Rebuilding Lives and Communities.ÿFEMA_s Disaster Relief Fund: nearly
    $6 billion for direct assistance to families for shelter and medical
    care, local rebuilding, debris removal, and other recovery activities;
    Community Development Block Grants: $5.2 billion to rebuild housing and
    community infrastructure; Federal facilities: $3.3 billion to rebuild
    facilities of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the
    Coast Guard, and NOAA, and to make repairs at Gulf Coast shipyards all
    of which are major local employers; Additional Federal relief: $500
    million in emergency agriculture assistance, $280 million for
    low-interest loans to distressed communities, and $235 million to
    assistÿlocal schoolsÿwithÿthe additional costs of educating K-12
    evacuees.
  þ 

    Strengthening the Region_s Hurricane Defenses and Restoring the
    Environment.ÿLeveeÿand flood control improvements: $3.6 billion for the
    Gulf region;ÿRestoration of wetlands and watersheds: $71 million;
    Environmentalÿremediation and restoration: $263 million; and Improved
    early storm warnings: $72 million.

Securing America_s Borders: $1.9 billion
  þ 

    New Resources to Protect the Border.ÿMore agents: $305 million for the
    first 1,000 of 6,000 new Border Patrol agents to be fielded by 2008;
    Tactical infrastructure: $250 million for enhanced security
    infrastructure including vehicle barriers, lighting, all-weather roads,
    and fencing; New facilities: $50 million for new and expanded Border
    Patrol stations, checkpoints, and forward operating bases to
    accommodate new agents; Detention and removal: $277 million for 4,000
    new beds, additional staff and transportation, to end catch-and-release
    on the southern border.
  þ 

    Assisting State and Local Efforts. Better coordination: $50 million to
    train state and local law enforcement authorities to assist with
    enforcement missions as well as $15 million for state, local, and
    tribal law enforcement personnel to coordinate directly with Federal
    personnel on joint enforcement activities.
  þ 

    More Legal Resources.ÿ$20 million foradditional administrative law
    judges, immigration attorneys, and technical and clerical staff to
    support the timely disposition of an expected increase in immigration
    hearings, and new funding for enhanced law enforcement efforts by
    United States Attorneys along the southern border.
  þ 

    Assistance from the National Guard.ÿ To help during this period of
    transition and in coordination with Governors, up to 6,000 National
    Guard members will be sent to our southern border. The Department of
    Homeland Security, and specifically the Border Patrol, will remain in
    the lead. National Guard units will assist the Border Patrol by
    operating surveillance systems, analyzing intelligence, installing
    fences and vehicle barriers, building patrol roads, and providing
    training.ÿ National Guard units deployed to our border will not be
    involved in direct law enforcement activities  that duty will continue
    to be carried out by the Border Patrol.

Preparing for a Possible Influenza Pandemic:ÿ $2.3 billion
  þ 

    Vaccine Development and Anti-viral Stockpiling.ÿ Supports the
    President_s National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza by funding
    pandemic influenza vaccine development and the stockpiling of antiviral
    medications and medical equipment.ÿ Vaccines and anti-virals are both
    important components of our preparedness strategy and greatly
    facilitate efforts to limit the spread of infection.ÿ
  þ 

    Strengthening our Public Health Monitoring and Diagnostic
    Capabilities.ÿFunds improved monitoring efforts both domestically and
    internationally to allow for early warning of a pandemic, and
    strengthens Federal and local response to a pandemic.ÿ Effective
    surveillance saves lives by allowing the activation of response plans
    prior to the arrival of a pandemic virus to the United States, and
    enhanced laboratory and diagnostic capabilities will improve our public
    health response should a pandemic occur.

# # #
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060615-15.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)