U.S. Senate Committee on appropriations press release: House-Senate Conference approves supplemental for military operations and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 29, 2003) -- The House-Senate Conference Committee today approved $87.5 billion in supplemental funding for military operations and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The reconciled bill now goes to the House and Senate floors for consideration and final passage. Text of the conference report and the accompanying statement of the managers will soon be available on Thomas.loc.gov, and highlights of the bill are below:

* $17.8 billion for the salaries and benefits of military personnel for active component troops and Guard and Reserve troops activated for duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas around the world;

* $39.2 billion for operations and maintenance in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Noble Eagle, of which $1 billion is to support coalition partners;

* $5.5 billion for procurement, including an additional $62.1 million for up-armored Humvees;

* $333.8 million for military research, development, testing, and evaluation;

* $658 million for the Defense Health Program;

* $600 million for the Defense Working Capital Fund to cover added fuel costs;

* Provided $313 million of the funds to repair Department of Defense infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Isabel;

* $524 million for military construction ($112 million of which is for damage to military facilities caused by Hurricane Isabel);

* $156.3 million for Department of State operations;

* $16.6 million for safe and secure facilities for the United States Agency for International Development in Iraq and Afghanistan;

* At least $38 million for operating expenses of the United States Agency for International Development for costs associated with Iraq and Afghanistan;

* $18.6 billion for Iraq for security, rehabilitation, and reconstruction (the amount also includes $200 million for assistance to Liberia, $200 million for assistance to Jordan, and $20 million for assistance to Sudan). Of those funds, $100 million is for democracy building activities in Iraq to support the development of a constitution and national elections;

* $872 million to continue political and economic development programs in Afghanistan;

* $170 million for Department of State narcotics control, law enforcement, nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, and de-mining programs;

* $287 million to continue programs and activities to build the new Afghanistan Army;

* $50 million for peacekeeping expenses in Iraq relating to additional foreign troops;

* $35 million for anti-terrorism training and equipment needs in Afghanistan; and

* $983 million for operating expenses for the Coalition Provisional Authority.

In addition, the conferees authorized medical and dental screening at no cost for Reservists who are ordered to active duty; expanded pre-mobilization and post-mobilization eligibility for TRICARE; and made TRICARE available to Reservists who are unemployed, or who are not offered health care benefits by their civilian employer.