Rep. Calvert "Troop Funding Bill Long Overdue but Republicans Ensure Bill Gets the Job Done"
Press Release
REP. CALVERT "TROOP FUNDING BILL LONG OVERDUE BUT REPUBLICANS ENSURE BILL GETS THE JOB DONE"
Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2642, the Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Bill with the support of Congressman Calvert (R-CA).
"It is unacceptable that our troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan have had to wait this long to get the necessary funding to continue operations," said Rep. Calvert, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "I am pleased the Democrats finally abandoned their efforts to attach withdrawal language or any other restrictive language that would have tied the hands of our commanders in theater."
"I am especially pleased that Republicans were able to attach language regarding G.I. Benefits that will allow the transfer of education benefits from the service member to family members," said Rep. Calvert.
Republican victories on the supplemental include:
Troop Funding for FY 2008-2009. The agreement ensures that our men and women in uniform will have the resources they need well into the next Administration.
NO War Restrictions. The agreement gets our troops the funding they need for success without any politically-motivated restrictions that hamstring our commanders in the field.
NO Tax Increases. The agreement includes no tax increases of any kind sought by Democrats.
New Resources for G.I. Benefits. The agreement will help our veterans (or their families) get a better education after they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Unemployment Insurance. The agreement includes the GOP 20-week work requirement, and limits the extension to 13 additional weeks, not the 26 weeks in the original Democrat bill.
Cuts Wasteful Pork. The agreement cuts $8 billion in wasteful Washington spending added by the Senate.
Planned Parenthood. The agreement eliminates the line item for Planned Parenthood regarding birth control medicines and devices at university and private clinics.
Ensures SCHIP Serves Poor Kids First. The agreement eliminates the Senate provision which undermined the Administration's authority to ensure that SCHIP serves the neediest children first.
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