Larsen Supports Funding for Troops, Katrina Recovery

Larsen Supports Funding for Troops, Katrina Recovery

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today voted in favor of Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq, Afghanistan and Hurricane Katrina (H.R. 4939). The measure passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 348 to 71.

Larsen released the following statement on his vote:

"Today's emergency supplemental provides the resources that our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan need to do their jobs, stay protected and return home.

"I believe that the Iraqis - not the U.S. military - are responsible for a secure and stable Iraq. The objective of putting Iraqis in the front seat of security, and moving our U.S. soldiers to the back seat should be our primary focus. Today's emergency supplemental will provide the reconstruction, training and diplomatic aid that is needed to meet this objective.

"This bill provides nearly $1.7 billion for reconstruction efforts and infrastructure programs in Iraq, $3 billion for training and equipment for Iraqi security forces, and $2 billion to acquire electronic jamming devices to protect our troops from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) - which have resulted over half of the U.S. troop casualties in Iraq.

"This supplemental also includes domestic disaster relief, providing important recovery funds for the southern communities that were impacted by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/wa02_larsen/PR_031606_Katrina.html