By Larry Jones
June 4, 2007

After President Bush vetoed a war supplemental appropriations bill on May 1, Congressional leaders decided to drop controversial troop withdrawal language and sent the President a new $120 billion proposal which was signed into law on May 25. The earlier measure was vetoed not only because it contained language establishing timetables for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, but because it included significantly more than the President requested for a number of domestic programs, including several city priorities. In the final compromise, the President agreed to retain most of the increases added by Congress. These included increases for a number of domestic programs including homeland security, hurricane and disaster relief, and children health insurance. However, funds included for low-income energy assistance, which appeared in the earlier version of the supplemental, were dropped.

Citing a number of deficiencies in our homeland security system, Congress added $1.05 billion to support the nation’s homeland security programs. Funds will be used to improve in-line technology at airports for screening baggage; provide better technology at airport checkpoints for screening passengers and baggage for explosives; increase border security; provide more inspectors and canine teams for screening cargo on passenger aircraft; improve security on buses, subways and railroads; and improve preparedness for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state and local emergency managers to respond to an attack or natural disaster.

Some of the specific funding include $50 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants to assist state and local governments in updating their emergency plans, $110 million for Port Security Grants and $100 million for Rail and Transit Grants. Also, $75 million is included for implementation of the Secure Freight Initiative and Safe Port Act to enhance targeting and screening of U.S. bond containers, and to hire 400 additional Customs and Border Protection officers. Another $285 million is also available for the procurement and installation of Explosive Detection Systems in airports across the nation.

The supplemental includes $6.270 billion to help rebuild the Gulf Coast and assist victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Included in this amount is $4.1 billion for FEMA Disaster Relief, which is $700 million more than President Bush requested. Funds for FEMA would be available to cover the cost of waiving certain state and local matching requirements for FEMA disaster assistance programs currently being provided in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

The supplemental also includes language extending the availability of Social Service Block Grant funds to states until September 30, 2009; extending authority to waive certain regulations to facilitate the reopening of schools in hurricane-impacted school districts; and extending the current waiver authority for tenant contributions and income verification for the disaster voucher program until December 30, 2007.

Congress also added $1.3 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair existing levees and other infrastructure damaged by the hurricanes. Another $320 million was added to cover the costs of Community Disaster loans that communities in the Gulf Coast impacted by the hurricanes cannot afford to repay. It also includes $50 million for Edward Byrne Discretionary Grants to assist Gulf Coast states in fighting the increase in violent crime resulting from the hurricanes.

The supplemental adds $650 million for the SCHIP program to ensure continued health care coverage for children of low-income families. A total of $393 million was made available in new funds and the remainder was added from savings from the Medicaid programs. The additional funds are needed to help 14 states avoid a shortfall in fiscal year 2007.

Congress decided to add $3.137 billion to the supplemental to fully fund Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts. When added to the $2.489 billion made available in the Fiscal Year 2007 Joint Funding Resolution, BRAC is funded at $5.626 billion, which is the amount the President requested to fully fund BRAC in 2005. Another $3 billion was also included to help relieve the enormous pressure on farmers and ranchers who have suffered from severe drought, floods, storms, wildfires, and many other natural disasters.