“The bipartisan activities that have taken place during the past four months have demonstrated the willingness of politicians on both sides of the aisle to forgo party differences and work together to maintain the security of our nation,” said Rep. Kolbe. “We, as a nation, have experienced tremendous pain but we have shown the world that the United States of America is just that - united. No terrorist or his cohorts can bring this country down. This country has shown its might and made our voice heard in the international community. Let our actions show the terrorists and the nations that harbor them around the world that they are sorely mistaken to take us on.”

In the past few months, the U.S. Congress has passed legislation specifically addressing the war on terrorism. Beginning with a joint resolution, Authorization for Use of Military Force, Congress gave the President full authority to sue force against terrorist. This week, appropriations bills funding our foreign aid and defense efforts were completed. 

“Our foreign aid budget is an integral part of our foreign policy; in fact, it funds our first line of national defense - our diplomatic efforts,” continued Kolbe. “None of our fight against terrorism in Afghanistan would be possible without the cooperation of countries around it - notably, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Our foreign aid dollars build the relationships year after year that make it possible for us to get the active support and cooperation of these countries when a crisis occurs.”

Highlights of the foreign operations appropriations bill include:
 

• Funding of the Agency for International Development (AID) is $3.5 billion.  Most of this increase is for HIV/AIDS and basic education.

• Provides $229 million for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief. Funding conditions include a 24-month moratorium on new market loans to countries benefiting from HIPC debt relief.

• Increases Peace Corps $10 million over FY01, bringing FY02 funding to $275 million.

Major funding initiatives for Defense and Homeland Security:

• Joint Forces Command unmanned aerial vehicle testing at Fort Huachuca - $2 million

• Counter-terrorism and weapons of mass destruction - $881 million

• Ballistic missile defense - $7.8 billion

• Drug interdiction - $840.6 million

• National guard/reserves - $729.1 million

• Chemical demilitarization - $1.1 billion

• The Customs Service receives $399.7 million for increased border and seaport inspections and other counter-terror activities, which includes not less than $10 million for the Southwest border. 

• The Coast Guard is provided with $209 million for antiterrorism activities. 

• Public Health and Bio-terrorism activities are funded at $2.5 billion.

• Aviation security initiatives through the Federal Aviation Administration receive $200 million which includes $100 million for cockpit door modifications and $65 million for the hiring of additional Sky marshals.  An additional $108.5 million is provided to the FAA for the purchase and installation of explosive detection systems. 

• The bill includes $93 million for grants to U.S. seaports for security assessments and enhancements. 

• $210 million for emergency planning assistance is provided for FEMA’s firefighter grants program. 

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation receives $745 million for a variety of counter-terrorism efforts.

• The bill provides the Immigration and Naturalization Service with $549.4 million for an increased border presence at the Northern and Southwestern borders and counter-terrorism initiatives. 

• $92.5 million is provided for security requirements of the Federal Judiciary and the Supreme Court. 

• $226 million for Nuclear Nonproliferation, including $120 million to secure nuclear materials at sites in Russia and the Newly Independent States. 

• The bill provides a onetime expenditure of $500 million for emergency expenses for the U.S. Postal Service for repair of facilities destroyed in the terrorist attacks and to mitigate current and future biohazardous threats.