Congress OKs $42.6 Billion for U.S., Allied War Costs

Congress gave final approval Friday to a bill authorizing $42.6 billion in U.S. and allied payments toward the cost of the Persian Gulf War, including a $655-million package of benefits for Desert Storm troops and veterans.

Before departing on a two-week Easter recess, lawmakers also passed a related $4.8-billion “dire emergency” money bill that contains $650 million for Israel and $200 million for Turkey to defray war-related costs.

Both measures were sent to President Bush for his signature.

Seeking to avoid a presidential veto, Senate and House negotiators softened a provision in the emergency bill that had threatened to cut off economic and military aid to Jordan and also dropped a costly plan to raise dairy price supports that the Bush Administration strongly opposed.

The Jordan aid ban, adopted by the Senate to rebuke King Hussein for his pro-Iraqi stance during the war, was modified to let the President continue the aid if he finds that Jordan has advanced the Middle East peace process or if providing the aid would help that process.

But the final version of the legislation retains a strict ban on arms sales to several U.S. allies in the Gulf conflict until they make all their promised contributions--totaling $53.5 billion--to help the United States pay for the war. So far, only about half of the contributions have been received and no country has yet fully met its pledges.

Sen. Mark O. Hatfield (R-Ore.), ranking GOP member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Budget Director Richard G. Darman told him Friday that the two bills are acceptable to the Administration and will be signed by the President.

Only $15 billion of the $42.6 billion in spending authorized by the Desert Storm bill would come from U.S. taxpayers. The legislation also directs that contributions from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and other nations must be used first. If the U.S. money is not needed, it will be returned to the Treasury.

The extraordinary requirement that the allied nations deliver on their pledges before being allowed to buy U.S. weapons reflects strong congressional feelings that Americans did most of the fighting in the Gulf and should not have to pay most of the cost as well.

“It doesn’t make sense, now that the war is over, for these (contributing) countries to put the United States last,” said Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

As a result, Congress decided that even the cost of increased combat pay, family separation pay and expanded education benefits for veterans will be paid from allied contributions rather than American taxpayers.

Among the expenditures to be financed from foreign contributions, Congress earmarked $2.9 billion to replenish key missiles, including the Patriot and Tomahawk, which proved highly successful in the war against Iraq.

The bill allocates nearly $30 billion to pay for the prewar military buildup, the devastating air and ground offensives against Iraq and the return of troops and equipment to the United States or previous duty stations.

The final version of the “dire emergency” bill included a directive to the Pentagon to overhaul the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard at a cost of $1.2 billion, despite the Senate’s vote against the provision.

Opponents in the House, who charged that the overhaul was an example of pork-barrel funding for key Pennsylvanians on the House Appropriations Committee, were rebuffed 295 to 91 when they attempted to remove it from the bill.

The bill also allocated money for a long list of programs, including $1.5 billion for food stamps and $25 million for drought relief measures in California.

The House passed the Desert Storm bill 379 to 11 and approved the “dire emergency” measure by a 340-to-48 margin. The Senate acted by voice vote without any roll calls.

INCREASED GI BENEFITS

The $655-million benefits package for members of the armed forces and reservists mobilized for the Gulf War and veterans includes:

Increase in hazardous duty pay for Persian Gulf forces from $110 to $150 a month, retroactive to last Aug. 1.

Increase from $60 to $75 a month in family separation pay for military personnel on active duty.

Temporary increase in death payments from $3,000 to $6,000, effective Jan. 16.

Doubling of Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance payments for those who died in connection with Desert Storm.

Special quarters allowances for reservists without dependents who are called to duty and cannot occupy their home or rental unit.

Transitional medical care benefits for reservists for 30 days after they leave active duty.

Ban on assigning female members of the armed forces with children under 6 months old to duty stations where they are separated from their babies.

Increase in monthly GI Bill education payments from $300 to $350 for three-year enlistees, from $250 to $275 for two-year enlistees and from $140 to $170 for qualified reservists.