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Bush to request $70 bn for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan
The White House has told Congress to expect requests for about $70 billion in additional funding for the current budget year for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The White House has told Congress to expect requests for about $70 billion in additional funding for the current budget year for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $18 billion more for hurricane relief, a Senate Republican aide says.
The details of the requests are not finalized but President George W. Bush's budget for 2007, to be submitted next week, will reflect the totals for planning purposes, said the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Another $2.3 billion to combat avian flu is also expected.
The funding for Iraq is in addition to $50 billion approved in December and should be enough to conduct the war through the September 30, end of the fiscal year.
Bush is also expected to set aside $50 billion in the 2007 budget for the war effort, though such funds won't be enough for the entire year.
"We understand that besides the supplemental that now, for the first time, they're going to request a bridge fund," said C.W.
"Bill" Young, who chairs the House Appropriations Defence Subcommittee. "This is what we're hearing."
Young and Rep. John Murtha, the senior Democrat on the panel, said late last year that military officials had told them to expect additional Iraq funding of as much as $100 billion for 2006.
