McCaul Supports American Troops with Emergency Funding

McCaul Supports American Troops with Emergency Funding
March 17, 2005

(Washington D.C.)- Congressman Michael McCaul helped back America's troops as he voted for the Emergency Supplemental Wartime Appropriations Act. This legislation, which passed the United States House of Representatives by a vote of 388-43, provides the necessary funds to conduct the War on Terror, maintain our commitment to our troops, and uses tax payer's money wisely.

"These dollars represent the important investments America is making in critical equipment for our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," stated Congressman Michael McCaul.

"We literally need to think of this emergency funding as the gear our troops will use to protect themselves in combat zones. This money is critical to keeping them as safe as possible. This is a true example of supporting our troops," said John Brieden, past National Commander for the VFW.

The bill calls for $76.8 billion to be spent on the latest in protective gear for American soldiers in the field. Soldiers will receive 1700 more armored Humvees and 47,000 additional sets of body armor among other proposed new equipment. With the funding comes $108 billion for concrete barracks in high risk areas of Iraq and Afghanistan. The House bill also proposes spending nearly $7 billion for training Iraqi and Afghan security forces to defend their own nations.

"With every new Iraqi and Afghan soldier and police officer trained, our sons, daughters, husbands and wives are one step closer to coming home for good," said McCaul.

The proposal also recognizes the need to provide for the families of soldiers who lose their lives in the War on Terror. The bill increases the maximum Servicemember Group Life Insurance benefit from $250,000 to $400,000. The onetime death gratuity for combat fatalities is also increased from $12,000 to $100,000.

"Families, who suffer as their loved ones go off to defend freedom, then suffer the ultimate pain of losing that loved one on the battlefield deserve more. While this extra money will never fill the gap of a lost loved one, we hope it makes dealing with the aftermath a bit easier," stated Congressman Michael McCaul.

The legislation now moves to the United States Senate for consideration.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx10_mccaul/WOTSUPPLEMENTAL.html