Mikulski: Reduced border supplemental to include money to fight wildfires
July 22, 2014 | 09:37 PM
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said late today that she will introduce an emergency supplemental funding bill Wednesday with $1 billion less than President Barack Obama requested to deal with the children seeking refuge at the Texas border, and that it will still include money for fighting wildfires.
“The bill is a responsible solution," Mikulski said in a statement.
“It provides a total of $3.57 billion to meet essential and immediate needs. The total amount of the president’s request will be needed. However, based on a review of what is needed in calendar year 2014 to meet needs at the border, the bill reduces the president’s request by $1 billion.
“This bill provides $615 million to suppress dangerous and devastating wildfires. Already this year, more than 30,000 fires have raged across the nation from Florida to California. In Oregon and Washington state, firefighters are battling 20 major fires. The largest of these blazes, Washington’s Carlton Complex Fire, is burning more than 237,000 acres. We cannot stand idly by while lives and livelihoods are at stake.
“This bill also provides $225 million to accelerate production for Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. Hamas has launched more than 2,000 missiles at Israel from Gaza in the current conflict. The Iron Dome has saved lives by intercepting 90 percent of these rockets. Israel is an essential American ally and needs these assets to defend itself.
“Finally, this bill provides $2.73 billion to address the crisis of children seeking refuge at our Southwestern border. Already 60,000 children have arrived. More than 90,000 are expected by the end of this year. These children are not the threat. They are seeking refuge from the threat: violence from organized crime, gangs, and vile human traffickers in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.”
“The bill is a responsible solution," Mikulski said in a statement.
“It provides a total of $3.57 billion to meet essential and immediate needs. The total amount of the president’s request will be needed. However, based on a review of what is needed in calendar year 2014 to meet needs at the border, the bill reduces the president’s request by $1 billion.
“This bill provides $615 million to suppress dangerous and devastating wildfires. Already this year, more than 30,000 fires have raged across the nation from Florida to California. In Oregon and Washington state, firefighters are battling 20 major fires. The largest of these blazes, Washington’s Carlton Complex Fire, is burning more than 237,000 acres. We cannot stand idly by while lives and livelihoods are at stake.
“This bill also provides $225 million to accelerate production for Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. Hamas has launched more than 2,000 missiles at Israel from Gaza in the current conflict. The Iron Dome has saved lives by intercepting 90 percent of these rockets. Israel is an essential American ally and needs these assets to defend itself.
“Finally, this bill provides $2.73 billion to address the crisis of children seeking refuge at our Southwestern border. Already 60,000 children have arrived. More than 90,000 are expected by the end of this year. These children are not the threat. They are seeking refuge from the threat: violence from organized crime, gangs, and vile human traffickers in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.”
