House Adds Border Security to War Funding
Originally published in the Guardian
House Adds Border Security to War Funding
Tuesday March 15, 2005 6:01 PM
By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House on Tuesday added a bill aimed at tightening border security to the $81.3 billion war spending package, a politically charged measure that has drawn criticism from Mexico but praise from some lawmakers for thwarting terrorism.
By voice vote, the House attached the bill that would require states to verify they aren't giving illegal immigrants drivers licenses, would give judges broader power to deport political asylum seekers whom they suspect may be terrorists and would allow the completion of a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.
House Republicans said the measure would enhance both U.S. border security and national security and, therefore, should be included in the war spending package.
"American citizens have a right to know who is in their country," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas.
The White House supports the House-passed bill but it faces stiff opposition in the Senate, where lawmakers are concerned about the asylum provision. Mexico has criticized the push to complete the building of a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border south of San Diego.
Last year, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., sought similar immigration provisions in a bill to overhaul U.S. intelligence agencies. But the Senate refused to include them in the final version of the intelligence bill because of concerns about proposed changes to U.S. asylum laws.
By attaching the bill to the emergency war spending package, the House is ensuring that the Senate deal with the measure when House and Senate negotiators meet to write a final version of the spending legislation.
The House began debating the spending package that mainly will pay for combat and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Swift passage with bipartisan support is expected this week.
Combined with previously approved funds, the package - the fifth emergency spending plan before Congress since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks - would drive the totals spent so far on Iraq, Afghanistan and operations against terrorists beyond $300 billion for fighting, aid to allies and reconstruction assistance.
In the latest package, President Bush asked for $81.9 billion and the House is poised to give Bush much of what he had requested.
While the House version is roughly $600 million less than the president's proposal, it would add $1.8 billion for buying body armor, medical supplies, night vision devices, communications equipment, weapons, ammunition and armor kits for combat vehicles. That brings the total for defense-related expenses to $76.8 billion.
The House version also would slice in half the president's request for $4 billion for foreign aid and State Department programs. House Republicans said the programs, mainly for reconstruction in Afghanistan, were not urgent and money would be considered later.
The bill also would provide about $590 million to build a U.S. embassy in Baghdad and $580 million for peacekeeping missions. It also would provide $590 million to train police and battle narcotics in Afghanistan, and authorize an increase in the one-time death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000 for families of troops killed on active duty.
As debate got underway Tuesday, anti-war Democrats used the opportunity to denounce the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's post-invasion strategy, and criticize the White House for lapses in accountability.
"I say the war was wrong, unholy and the administration has brought death, destruction, chaos and corruption to Iraq," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.
Subscribe to this blog's feed