Statement on Signing the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003

Statement on Signing the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003

February 20, 2003

Today I signed into law H.J. Res. 2, an Omnibus appropriations bill
funding the remaining 11 appropriations bills for FY 2003. The funds
provided in this resolution will provide important and long overdue
resources for our Nations priorities, including fighting the war on
terrorism and educating our most vulnerable children.
This bill provides over $397 billion in discretionary budget
authority, including $10 billion in reserve funding for the Department
of Defense, and is largely consistent with the agreed upon overall
funding level. My original budget request, made a year ago, asked for
the War on Terror reserve. I had separately agreed to endorse new funds
for election reform, a bill that was passed months after my budget was
submitted.
Unfortunately, the Congress chose to circumvent the spending limit
for FY 2003 by borrowing $2.2 billion in funding from FY 2004. This
action must be corrected by adjusting both the 2004 budget allocations
and appropriations, and holding advance appropriations constant with the
level enacted last year. I will ask the Leadership to ensure this
happens.
This bill allocates over $53 billion in total Education funding. The
Congress provided increases for many of my high-priority programs,
including programs for reading, disadvantaged students, special
education, and Pell Grants.
The bill also includes $3.3 billion in unrequested drought and other
assistance, which is only minimally offset by real reductions in
existing farm spending. Ninety-five percent of purported savings are
scheduled to come several years from now, after the expiration of todays
farm bill, and may prove illusory.
Most troublesome, H.J. Res. 2 falls nearly $1 billion short of my
request for State and local law enforcement and emergency personnel, and
in particular underfunds terrorism preparedness for first responders. I
requested $3.5 billion for the First Responders Initiative. The bill,
however, provides only $1.3 billion for this purpose. Meanwhile the bill
provides $2.2 billion for existing State and local grant programs, which
are not directly related to higher-priority terrorism preparedness and
prevention efforts. This is unsatisfactory, and my Administration will
use every appropriate tool available to ensure that these funds are
directed to the highest priority homeland security needs.
This belated agreement to last years appropriations process is not
perfect, but it underscores the need to move quickly on this years
priorities outlined in my 2004 budget request. I look forward to working
with the Congress to continue funding the war on terror, strengthening
our economy, and protecting the homeland.
George W. Bush