White House
30 June 2008
U.S. President George Bush has signed legislation providing anadditional $162 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson has details.
President Bush says America has a responsibility to back its men and women serving in the military, especially at a time of war.
"Weowe these brave Americans our gratitude," he said. "We owe them ourunflinching support. And the best way to demonstrate that support isto give them the resources they need to do their jobs and to prevail."
Mr.Bush spoke just minutes after signing a war funding bill that was theresult of months of negotiations, debate, and compromise between theWhite House and Capitol Hill. He hailed the legislation as a truebipartisan effort.
"This bill shows the American people thateven in an election year, Republicans and Democrats can come togetherto stand behind our troops and their families," President Bush said.
Thepresident went out of his way to praise the Congressional leaders fromboth parties who worked on the legislation. And he noted that membersof Congress provided the money without conditions.
"I appreciatethat Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed to provide thesevital funds without tying the hands of our commanders and without anartificial timetable for withdrawal from Iraq," said President Bush.
Thislegislation brings the total allocated for the war in Iraq to more than$650 billion during the past five years. Estimates of spending forAfghanistan are roughly in the $200 billion range.
The measuresigned by the president is expected to fund the war effort well into2009. The next spending request will be submitted by his successor.