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Overview: Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report
December 20, 2005 -
SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS:
- $453.28 billion in new spending authority
- 3.1% across-the-board pay raise for military personnel
- $142.8 million for body armor and personal protection equipment.
- $50 billion for the Global War on Terror
- Funds for armored vehicles, new armor and IED jamming devices
AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT:
• OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN ALASKA:
- All Americans are suffering from skyrocketing heating fuel costs and high gas prices
- 60% of oil is imported from overseas making US vulnerable to supply disruptions like after Hurricane Katrina
- ANWR is the second largest US oil reserve in North America – up to 14 billion barrels
- Will raise at least $40 billion generated for the federal gov’t
- Bill contains dozens of environmental protections (no drilling when caribou are calving, no drilling in the summer, etc.)
• DISASTER ASSISTANCE:
- $ 6 billion as direct grants to state and local governments in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida plus a 30 year revenue stream from ANWR royalties
- Funds will be used to rebuild the levees, flood protection, clean up, and emergency assistance for hurricane refugees.
• HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE:
- $ 2 billion in FY 06 emergency funding for LIHEAP
- A portion of the $2 billion will be allocated based on emergency needs which will allow the government to provide assistance this winter. The remainder of the funds will be allocated based on the existing formula that will provide assistance to states with high cooling costs.
- 5% from ANWR revenues for LIHEAP over 30 years ($50 million a year)
- LIHEAP helps low income individuals pay for their sky rocketing winter energy costs.
• INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT:
- $1 billion for a grant program dedicated solely to providing state and local government with interoperable communications equipment so states can prepare in advance for a disaster like Katrina or a terrorist attack
• EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANTS:
- $1 billion grant program dedicated to preparing state and local governments for disasters of all sorts: natural disasters like Katrina, terrorist attacks, and even pandemic events
- Allows public health departments to gear up for avian flu outbreak or biological attack
- Enables states and cities to work on issues identified in Katrina like evacuation routes and housing and care of refugees.
- Funds allocated based on threat and risk with amount guaranteed to each state -- .55% is the minimum (at least $5 million per state).
• BORDER SECURITY INITIATIVE:
- $1.1 billion for major infrastructure improvements to allow the United States to control its border.
• FARMERS AND CONSERVATION:
- Farmers are now suffering from high fuel costs
- $1 billion would be provided to farmers through conservation initiatives supported by sportsmen.
- Programs include Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Grasslands Reserve Program, Conservation Security Program.
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