Bipartisan Iraq Reconstruction Provision Authored by Nelson, Bayh, Collins Included in Iraq Supplemental Markup

Language Requires Iraq to Pay for Reconstruction and Training

WASHINGTON, May 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Heralded as the first bipartisan effort to change our Iraq policy, a provision authored by Senators Ben Nelson, Evan Bayh and Susan Collins has come one step further to transferring financial responsibility for reconstruction and some operations costs from the U.S. taxpayer to the Iraqi Government. The provision was included in the Senate Appropriations Iraq War Supplemental markup today.

"The blank check era for Iraq is coming closer and closer to its end," said Senator Nelson. "This language included in the supplemental requires Iraq to take more responsibility for its own reconstruction. With the United States and Iraq sharing the burden of the immense costs associated with rebuilding, the strain on the American taxpayer will be eased and Baghdad will have more of an investment in its future."

"There is no reason why the Iraqis cannot bear more of the cost of securing, stabilizing and rebuilding their country," said Senator Collins. "No more American funds should be spent for major reconstruction projects. The costs of the salaries for the Sons of Iraq, for the training and equipping of the Iraqi security forces, and for other costs such as the fuel we use in Iraq should be borne by the Iraqis. It is really difficult for Americans who are struggling with the high cost of energy to pay these costs in a county that has the second-largest oil reserves and a burgeoning budget surplus."

"We are sending our hard-earned American dollars down a black hole in Baghdad," said Senator Bayh. "While the Iraqi government is swimming in black ink, the United States government is drowning in red ink. Our first priority is to the American people. It's time to stop payment on these blank checks to Baghdad."

Under this provision, use of United States taxpayers' funds for major reconstruction projects in Iraq will be banned and Iraq will be required to cover all or part of the costs of small scale reconstruction projects, joint missions with coalition forces and training and equipment for their own troops. Large scale projects are defined as any reconstruction project costing over $2 million.

The provision bans United States funding for major infrastructure projects in Iraq, and requires Iraq to obligate Iraqi funds for reconstruction projects before any future U.S. aid for reconstruction is obligated. The language also requires the President to craft a cost sharing agreement with the Iraqi Government for Coalition-Iraqi combined operations in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The provision also shifts the costs of the salaries, training, equipping, and sustaining of Iraqi Security Forces along with the costs associated with the Sons of Iraq to the Iraqis.

The Senate Appropriations Committee completed and approved the 2008 Iraq War Supplemental markup Thursday evening. The bill is expected to be considered by the Senate next week.