Eveniment

U.S. Congress Working on Tsunami Aid Package


Thu Dec 30, 5:30 PM ET
By Anna Willard
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is preparing a new tsunami disaster aid package for introduction in Congress early next year, but a leading Democrat said on Thursday President Bush has the authority to commit $300 million immediately to the international relief effort.


Faulted by critics for a slow and miserly response to the Asian tsunami, U.S. officials said new assistance now in the works in Congress would be in addition to the $35 million pledged by Bush on Wednesday.

Congressional aides said the size of the aid package had not yet been agreed.

Rep. Henry Hyde, an Illinois Republican, said he is drafting legislation to assist victims that he plans to introduce after the new Congress starts work on Jan. 4.

"The challenges of coping with suffering on this magnitude are almost unfathomable, and we will act," said Hyde, who chairs the House International Relations Committee.

He said a congressional delegation will visit Thailand and Sri Lanka next week.

Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, said on CNN he had prepared a resolution for the return of the new Congress that will set the stage for "very generous appropriations."

"I think there will be very decisive action early on," said Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will lead a separate U.S. delegation to the region on Sunday, said the United States would back humanitarian relief and long-term reconstruction."

"The United States will continue to add to the commitment we've already made as the need is known and after we've had a chance to, of course, consult with the Congress," he said during a condolence call at the Thai embassy in Washington.

BUSH CRITICIZED

But Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont criticized Bush for not moving more quickly to offer more assistance.

"He has the authority right now, on his own, to move about $300 million -- $50 million a country -- for those that are effected. He could do that today," Leahy said in a CNN interview.

"Congress could act very very quickly, but it also helps if the president wants to act very quickly," he added.

Leahy is among lawmakers who favor raiding the $18 billion set aside for Iraq reconstruction. Only a tiny portion of this money has been used because the poor security situation in the country has hampered rebuilding work.

"It may never be spent. But it's not going to harm anything to take some of that money today and use it here. We can always replace it later if we have to," Leahy said.

Lawmakers are also able to quickly approve new money in response to emergencies.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States Congress approved $40 billion in three days, and lawmakers responded speedily with $13.6 billion for states hit by the hurricanes in the run-up to the November elections.

Another alternative, is to consider the new aid as part of a coming supplemental funding package for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the president is not expected to request that money until early February along with his budget for 2006.

It could then take weeks after that for Congress to approve the military funds, so congressional aides said this option is better suited for the long-term reconstruction needs in the region.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States rejected criticism that it was slow or stingy.

"Any implications that the United States is not being generous, is not forthcoming, is not active, is not, in fact, leading the way is just plain wrong and doesn't reflect what's going on in this crisis," he told a news briefing.