Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today voted in favor of the final version of the Emergency Supplemental Wartime Appropriations for FY 2005 (H.R. 1268). The Senate is expected to pass the bill when it reconvenes next week.

Larsen released the following statement on his vote:
 
“Today’s $82 billion emergency supplemental bill supplies the women and men in Iraq and Afghanistan with the resources they need in order to do their jobs.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue supporting efforts to ensure that our women and men in the military get the resources they need on the ground and the services and benefits they’ve earned at home.”

“Important to Washington state, the supplemental bill also includes funding to hire and train an additional 500 Border Patrol Agents. I will work in Congress to make sure that the Northern Border gets its fair share of those new agents.

“Among other important foreign aid efforts, I was pleased to see that the bill makes a sizable investment in tsunami relief and recovery.

“I am disappointed that, while this bill sands the rough edges off the original House version’s immigration provisions, it still raises the bar unnecessarily for those seeking asylum from political or religious persecution.

The bill appropriates $82 billion in emergency fiscal year 2005 funds - 93 percent of which is for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure provides $4.1 billion for foreign assistance and international programs.

Larsen serves on the House Armed Services Committee. He has twice visited with troops in Iraq since the war began.