Fiscal year 2003 security assistance legislation and funding allocations

DISAM Journal, Spring, 2003 by Kenneth W. Martin

The Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002, P.L. 107-187, 10 June 2002, reaffirms Congressional endorsement of additional Eastern and Central European countries being invited to be members of the NATO organization and designates Slovakia as being eligible for priority in delivery of grant EDA along with previously legislated eligible Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria.

Both Houses acted immediately to the President's emergency supplemental request of $75,000,000,000 in appropriations for FY2003 for GWOT, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the reconstruction of Iraqi, and additional security assistance funding and authorities for countries affected by both wars. H.Rpt 108-55 of 2 April 2003 accompanied HR1559 and S. Rpt. 108-33 of 1 April 2003 accompanied S762. The Conference was convened to iron-out the differences with HR1559 being reported out on 12 April 2003 with H.Rpt. 108-76. Both Houses promptly passed the resulting bill appropriating nearly $80,000,000,000. It was enacted on 16 April 2003 as the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2003, P.L. 108-11. The following twelve (12) items are the significant security assistance-related highlights of the FY2003 supplemental:

* For DoD expenses in the GWOT and military operations in Iraq, the Iraq Freedom Fund is established with an appropriation of $15,678,900,000 of which up to $25,000,000 is to be available for counter-terrorism military training activities for foreign governments, to include equipment, supplies, and services.

* $165,000,000 is appropriated to reimburse DoD for the value of drawdown support authorized by Section 202(b) of the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002, P.L. 107-327, 4 December 2002.

* $63,500,000 of appropriated DoD funding may be used to reimburse the value of drawdown support authorized by Section 49(a)(2) of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, P.L. 105- 338, 31 October 1998. An aggregate ceiling of $86,500,000 is established for drawdowns during FY2003 under this authority.

* Up to $1,400,000,000 transferred from the new Iraq Freedom Fund to "Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide" may be used for payments to reimburse Pakistan, Jordan, and other key cooperating nations for logistical and military support provided to U.S. military operations in connection with military operations in Iraq and the GWOT.

* For FY2003 only, authorizes an increase in Imminent Danger Special Pay to $225 (vice $150) and Family Separation Allowance to $250 (vice $100).

* Appropriates $2,475,000,000 for humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in Iraq.

* Appropriates an additional $2,422,000,000 in grant ESF funding to include: not less than $700,000,000 for Jordan, $300,000,000 shall be available for Egypt, not to exceed $1,000,000,000 for Turkey, not less than $30,000,000 for the Philippines, not less than $167,000,000 for Afghanistan, and $10,000,000 should be available for investigations and research into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed by Saddam Hussein or other Iraqis.