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STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BOB STUMP
ON MANAGER'S AMENDMENT TO HR 4547,
THE COST OF WAR AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2002 |
The amendment represents my recommendations to the committee on how best to reconcile the preliminary action already taken by the Committee in May and the President's recent budget amendment request.
It represents a compromise of sorts. It authorizes specific activities where we have specific information and it grants the Administration flexibility for those accounts where we don't.
The proposed amendment would accomplish a number of objectives.
First, it preserves the action already taken by the committee by fulfilling our commitment to authorize the $3.5 billion worth of war-related programs we deferred earlier in May.
Second, it would keep intact all major elements of the budget request and authorize those amounts for
which the Administration has identified a specific purpose.
Third, it provides the Department of Defense significant flexibility by creating two transfer accounts that the Secretary can use to move money around and meet the needs of the war as they emerge.
Finally, it fully and specifically complies with the terms of the Budget Resolution by ensuring that all activities funded by this bill are directly for the prosecution of the war on terrorism.
I think it is also important to note that this amendment contains not one dime of money for so-called member adds or earmarks. In fact, save for $180 million for needed enhancement wartime special payments for the troops, the remaining $9.82 billion provided has been requested by the Administration in one form or another.
Members have in front of them a more detailed breakout of the component pieces of this proposal and we can delve into whatever detail is desired during the debate.
This proposal was developed on a bipartisan basis and with the input and views of many members -- all committed to developing the best way to strike a balance between Congressional prerogatives and the need to provide the Department with some flexibility in financing this unprecedented global war on terrorism.
I believe this amendment is a reasonable solution that accomplishes all these goals and I urge the committee to support it.
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