Burgess Votes for Emergency Bill to Fund Hurricane Relief, War on Terror

House Republicans Act to Restrain Unnecessary Spending

WASHINGTON – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) voted alongside House Republicans for passage of the conference report on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006 to provide $94.5 billion for critical defense, military, and hurricane relief priorities.

“Our troops are committed to bringing freedom globally and ensuring that America is safe,” said Congressman Michael Burgess. “It is our job in Congress to ensure that they have all the necessary funding to achieve their missions affectively, efficiently and safely.”

“The United States has been faced with a series of natural disasters last year, and it is important that we provide key funding to provide disaster relief,” said Representative Burgess. “This bill includes recovery efforts and perhaps even more importantly, helps to prepare areas that are susceptible to future hurricanes and other natural disasters.”

The Senate originally passed a version of the supplemental appropriations bill authorizing $108.9 billion in new spending. House Republicans, determined to hold the line on spending, brought the bill’s total down to $94.5 billion in the conference report by ensuring that unnecessary projects and programs were removed from the bill.

Highlights of H.R. 4939, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery for Fiscal Year 2006, include:

• $890 million for up-armored Humvees to protect our military men and women;
• Almost $2 billion for improvised explosive device (IED) countermeasures;
• $4.85 billion to train and equip Iraqi and Afghan security forces;
• $66 million for the promotion of democracy in Iran;
• $1.9 billion to strengthen U.S. border security;
• $6 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund; and
• $3.7 billion for flood control projects and levee repairs.