Bush signs $162 billion war spending bill
Legislation will bring to more than $650 billion the amount Congress has provided for the Iraq war since it began in 2003.
President Bush signed into law Monday a war supplemental spending package that includes nearly $162 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to an increase in veterans' education benefits and a 13-week extension of unemployment insurance.
"This is a responsibility we all share, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans, and I want to thank the leaders of the House and Senate for getting this bill to my office," Bush said after signing the measure.
The Senate approved the package late Thursday, a week after the House gave its endorsement.
Approval came after months of partisan wrangling and negotiations between House leaders and the White House.
An agreement was reached about two weeks ago.
The bill's first part includes $161.8 billion for the wars, which will cover the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30 and should last until next summer. The second section includes funding initiatives not directly related to the wars.
The boost in veterans' education benefits can be transferred to spouses and children. It is estimated to cost $62.8 billion over 11 years. The White House initially rejected inclusion of the increased benefits in the package because of retention concerns, but changed course under the compromise struck with House leaders, who agreed to allow the benefit to be transferable. "We also owe a debt of gratitude to our nation's military families," Bush said. "So I'm pleased that the bill I sign today includes an expansion of the GI Bill. This legislation will make it easier for our troops to transfer unused education benefits to their spouses and children. It will help us to recruit and reward the best military on the face of the Earth. It will help us to meet our responsibilities to those who support our troops every day -- America's great military families."
The package's extension of unemployment benefits is expected to cost $8.2 billion over 11 years. The legislation would retain a requirement that beneficiaries must work at least 20 weeks to be eligible for benefits. It was kept in at the behest of Republicans. Democrats also dropped a proposal to provide another 13 weeks of unemployment insurance to states with high jobless rates. "This bill includes a measured expansion of unemployment insurance benefits with a reasonable work requirement," Bush said. "And this bill holds overall discretionary spending within the sensible limits that I requested." Bush praised other funding in the bill, including $465 million for the Merida Initiative, a partnership with Mexico and nations in Central America to crack down on violent drug trafficking gangs; and nearly $2.7 billion to help states facing natural disasters.
In addition, the package includes language to block implementation of six of seven White House-proposed regulations for Medicaid that were designed to curb fraud and abuse, and it would ensure that Israel would get $170 million in aid for fiscal 2009 if Congress does not finish work on the appropriations bills by the end of the fiscal year. Under a continuing resolution, Israel would not receive a White House-requested $170 million increase in aid, and the legislation would provide that funding in that event.