Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong support for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who are deployed around the world in defense of the principles of democracy and our great nation. Today the Senate will pass the conference report to
H.R. 3289, the FY04 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Iraq, Afghanistan and the Global War on Terrorism.

The conference report does not include a key provision adopted by the Senate which would have required $10 billion in Iraq reconstruction funds to be used as a loan rather than as a grant unless 90 percent of foreign creditors cancel Iraqi debt. I voted for this provision because I believed that it would have helped to provide Iraqis with meaningful participation in the reconstruction of their country by making them responsible for the funding. I am disappointed that the provision has been eliminated, but I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to address the issue of how to appropriately respond to continued requests for federal dollars to reconstruct Iraq.

Last year, as the Senate debated authorization of the use of force in Iraq, one of my concerns was our planning of, and responsibility for, the reconstruction of Iraq. Before we even engaged in this conflict, I asked Administration officials about post-war Iraq plans. I was repeatedly told that the appropriate officials were working hard to develop such plans and that details were not necessary because there were too many unpredictable factors to consider. Well, here we are, four months after President George W. Bush declared major combat in Iraq to be over. We are being told that our troops will be in Iraq for an extended period of time. American soldiers continue to be wounded and killed almost every day. We are faced with open-ended requests for billions of dollars to reconstruct Iraq.

There seems to be reluctance on the part of our international colleagues to contribute and participate in the rebuilding of Iraq due to U.S. control and authority over the reconstruction funds and plans. It is imperative that we recruit other countries to assist us in peacekeeping activities to relieve our military members so that they can return home. It is just as imperative that we allow other countries to contribute to the reconstruction effort to relieve the American taxpayer of what has been and will continue to be a monumental expenditure of federal funds in Iraq. The United States must be willing to take the necessary actions to make such international cooperation a reality.

During the Senate's consideration of President Bush's FY04 supplemental request, I voted in support of S. 1689 because I believed the Senate was successful in adding provisions to the legislation to support our deployed troops; increase accountability and transparency in post-war Iraq contracts; improve planning for post-war Iraq; and reduce the burden on the American Taxpayer of the costs stemming from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle and the Global War on Terrorism on the American taxpayer. While I am pleased to learn that the conference report retains provisions to support our troops such as the one-year demonstration program for enhanced TRICARE eligibility for certain National Guardsmen and Reservists, the retroactive reimbursement for soldiers who paid for their food while being medically treated, and the continued authorization for Imminent Danger Pay and Family Separation Pay at increased rates for FY04, I am concerned that the provisions adopted by the Senate which were eliminated will make it more difficult for us to ensure appropriate oversight, accountability, and success in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terror.

I am particularly disappointed by the conference committee's decision to eliminate the provision proposed by Senator Jack Reed to increase Army end-strength by 10,000. I remain increasingly concerned about the strain of the increased OPTEMPO on the Army. I firmly believe we need to increase end-strength and look forward to working with my colleagues and the Army to address this matter. I understand that General Schoomaker has directed a study of this issue and I look forward to the results of this study.

Mr. President, again, I fully support our men and women in the military. For that reason, I fully support the $51.4 billion for ongoing military operations in Iraq, $10.5 billion for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and $3.6 billion for homeland defense. I will work diligently with my colleagues to ensure that our Armed Forces are provided with the training and equipment necessary for them to accomplish their mission so that they can return home safely to their families in a timely manner.

I support the $5 billion for security training for Iraqi security forces. I remain concerned, however, with the amount of funding that has been designated for reconstruction of Iraq, particularly since we have been assured that this supplemental only represents the most pressing reconstruction needs for the next 12 months and does not cover all reconstruction needs. At the same time, we have pressing domestic needs including the need to fund an additional $1.3 billion for medical care for veterans. We have a number of educational and social programs that are in definite need of increased funding. We must be responsible stewards of taxpayers' money.

Mr. President, I voted in opposition to authorizing the use of military force against Iraq in October 2002. I voted this way because I believed we had not yet utilized all of our options at the international level. However, once the decision to utilize military force was made, I fully supported the men and women who were deployed in this effort. We are now responsible to ensure that they have the equipment and resources to undertake their mission in the safest manner possible. Our leadership of the coalition forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom also makes the United States accountable for the restoration and reconstruction of Iraq. Again, I believe we must work closely with our allies and neighbors in the international community for us to successfully bring out troops back home. I look forward to working with my colleagues to find a way to accomplish such a difficult challenge.