Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction Act, 2004

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN SECURITY AND RECONSTRUCTION ACT, 2004

Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, obviously $87 billion is an eye-popping sum of money, and taxpayers want the Congress to turn every penny over twice. That is what Senator Dorgan and I have done. We've gone through every number with a sharp pencil. This amendment, without in any way hampering the efforts to deal with the grave concerns in Iraq, could save taxpayers $1.8 billion.

For example, in a report for Senator Bingaman and myself, the Congressional Research Service found $200 million could be saved in connection with the purchase of petroleum products. They have indicated it would be significantly cheaper to buy gasoline in neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Without the Dorgan-Wyden amendment, in effect, the Senate would be saying to the American taxpayers the Federal Government cannot get a better price per gallon for gas when buying a 30-day supply of gas for a country the size of California than you and I could get at the gas station just down the street from the Capitol.

So we believe this is an important amendment. I have worked on these issues with a number of colleagues, particularly Senator Collins. We are able to get competitive bidding now on all of the contracts. The Dorgan-Wyden amendment complements this effort.

I particularly want to thank Senator Stevens and Senator Byrd for working closely with us to be able to save at least $1.8 billion, at the end of this debate, in a responsible fashion, in a fashion that will not injure our troops, that will not injure the reconstruction effort.

This is a significant step forward for the Senate, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and thank again Senator Stevens for working with us.