Tweet
Bush signs $162 billion war spending bill
By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer 17 minutes ago
WASHINGTON Iraq Afghanistan
"This bill shows the American people that even in an election year, Republicans and Democrats can come together to support our troops and their families," Bush said in an Oval Office ceremony.
Bush made clear to thank members of both parties in Congress, singling out some sponsors of the long-delayed, compromise measure for praise. His positive comments contrasted with the confrontational tone that has dominated the debate between Congress and his administration overIraq
The legislation will bring to more than $650 billion the amount Congress has provided for theIraq Afghanistan
"Our nation has no greater responsibility than to support our men and women in uniform — especially because we're at war," Bush said.
The package approved by Congress includes a doubling of GI Bill college benefits for troops and veterans. It also provides a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits, $2.7 billion in emergency flood relief for theMidwest , and tens of billions of dollars for food aid, anti-drug enforcement, Louisiana
The bill will fund the wars well into next year, when their fate will be in the hands of Bush's successor.
It also gives the next president several months to setIraq
The Democratic majority in Congress has tried, unsuccessfully, to force troop withdrawals and other limits on Bush's ability to conduct the war. Bush said the bill will allow troops to prevail inIraq Afghanistan
"I appreciate that Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed to provide these vital funds without tying the hands of our commanders and without an artificial timetable of withdrawal from Iraq," Bush said, flanked by some of his top officials, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Many war opponents in Congress, in fact, have expressed frustration and a sense of resignation at having to yield to the lame duck president.
No lawmakers attended the ceremony, White House press secretary Dana Perino said, because "they're all out of town." Congress is in recess.
The new GI Bill essentially would guarantee a full scholarship at any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend, for people who serve in the military for at least three years. It is aimed at replicating the benefits awarded veterans of World War II and more than doubles the value of the benefit — from $40,000 today to $90,000.
The GI Bill measure, authored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., had such extraordinary support from both Democrats and Republicans that White House objections were easily overridden. The bill also allows veterans to transfer their benefits to their spouse or a child, an idea Bush has championed.
The White House tried much harder to kill the effort to extend unemployment benefits as part of the war funding bill. But Bush's administrational ultimately supported the compromise version, which requires people to have worked for 20 weeks in order to be eligible for the extended payments.
By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer 17 minutes ago
"This bill shows the American people that even in an election year, Republicans and Democrats can come together to support our troops and their families," Bush said in an Oval Office ceremony.
Bush made clear to thank members of both parties in Congress, singling out some sponsors of the long-delayed, compromise measure for praise. His positive comments contrasted with the confrontational tone that has dominated the debate between Congress and his administration over
The legislation will bring to more than $650 billion the amount Congress has provided for the
"Our nation has no greater responsibility than to support our men and women in uniform — especially because we're at war," Bush said.
The package approved by Congress includes a doubling of GI Bill college benefits for troops and veterans. It also provides a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits, $2.7 billion in emergency flood relief for the
The bill will fund the wars well into next year, when their fate will be in the hands of Bush's successor.
It also gives the next president several months to set
The Democratic majority in Congress has tried, unsuccessfully, to force troop withdrawals and other limits on Bush's ability to conduct the war. Bush said the bill will allow troops to prevail in
"I appreciate that Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed to provide these vital funds without tying the hands of our commanders and without an artificial timetable of withdrawal from Iraq," Bush said, flanked by some of his top officials, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Many war opponents in Congress, in fact, have expressed frustration and a sense of resignation at having to yield to the lame duck president.
No lawmakers attended the ceremony, White House press secretary Dana Perino said, because "they're all out of town." Congress is in recess.
The new GI Bill essentially would guarantee a full scholarship at any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend, for people who serve in the military for at least three years. It is aimed at replicating the benefits awarded veterans of World War II and more than doubles the value of the benefit — from $40,000 today to $90,000.
The GI Bill measure, authored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., had such extraordinary support from both Democrats and Republicans that White House objections were easily overridden. The bill also allows veterans to transfer their benefits to their spouse or a child, an idea Bush has championed.
The White House tried much harder to kill the effort to extend unemployment benefits as part of the war funding bill. But Bush's administrational ultimately supported the compromise version, which requires people to have worked for 20 weeks in order to be eligible for the extended payments.
Comment