On June 16, the House approved, 226-202, the conference report for the FY2009 supplemental spending bill (H.R. 2346). The Senate approved the report on June 18 by a vote of 91-5. The House approved its original version of the bill on May 14 (see The Source, 5/15/09); the Senate approved its version on May 21 (see The Source, 5/22/09). President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.
The conference report allocates $105.9 billion in supplemental funding, which is $13.7 billion more than the president’s request, $9 billion more than the House-passed version, and $14.6 billion more than the Senate bill. The overall amount includes $79.9 billion for ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The report allocates $708.842 million for Family Advocacy Programs (FAP). The FAP would provide military families with “counseling and family assistance, including child psychologists, and other intervention efforts, which is $94 million above the request in order to enhance the activities of the Family Advocacy Program and provide for children and families managing the difficult challenges of military service. The funding is provided for, but not limited to, child care, counseling, spouse certification and licensure, and Joint Family Assistance Centers.” The measure also includes $276 million for child development centers and $1.055 billion for the Defense Health Program.
The conference report allocates $997.890 million to the State Department for diplomatic and consular programs, $906 million for international peacekeeping programs, and $700 million for the P.L. 480 Food for Peace international food assistance program. The report also allocates $100 million to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS and $390 million for migration and refugee assistance programs.
The Economic Support Fund, which provides support to countries in democratic transition, would receive $2.974 billion. The conference report states that “Funds appropriated in this title for assistance for Afghanistan…shall be made available to support programs that increase participation by women in the political process, including at the national, provincial, and sub-provincial levels, and in efforts to improve security in Afghanistan.” The report also directs the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan “to consult with the Department of State’s Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues concerning the use of these funds. The conferees direct USAID to increase its support for Afghan women’s organizations that address the needs and rights of Afghan women and girls. The conference agreement provides not less than $5 million for capacity building for Afghan women-led nongovernmental organizations, and not less than $25 million to support programs and activities of such organizations, including to provide legal assistance and training for Afghan women and girls about their rights, and to promote women’s health (including mental health), education, and leadership.” Programs to combat violence against women and girls in Afghanistan also would receive $10 million.
The conference report includes $10 million for programs and activities to assist victims of gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Department of Homeland Security would receive $46.2 million for the Customs and Border Patrol. Of that amount, $6.2 million would be allocated for the care and transportation of unaccompanied illegal minors. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would receive $11.8 million related to the cost of caring for and transporting such children to the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the provisions of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act (P.L. 110-457). HHS would receive $82 million for Refugee and Entrant Assistance for such costs.
