In March, the House of Representatives passed the FY 2006 supplemental appropriations bill that primarily funds the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also includes urgently needed funding for global food programs, assistance for the people of Sudan and Liberia, as well as refugee assistance. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its own supplemental appropriations bill. Thanks in part to you advocacy efforts the bill includes many of USCCB/CRS priorities:

• More than $564 million for refugee, humanitarian, and peacekeeping needs in Sudan with the approval of an amendment by Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) to add $50 million for Darfur peacekeeping operations
• $350 million for Title II Food Aid.
• $50 million for assistance to Liberia.
• $40 million for Haiti, just $10 million short of USCCB/CRS request.
• $100 million for Migration and Refugee Assistance, bringing funding levels closer to USCCB/CRS request for $117.2 million.

No additional funding for the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust (BEHT), an emergency food reserve, was added to the Committee-passed bull as requested by USCCB/CRS.

The Committee also unexpectedly added $13.2 million for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including $8.2 million for military reform and $5 million to support free and fair elections. The USCCB/CRS is still assessing the Committee-passed provisions relating to aid for Palestinians and Iraq reconstruction funding.

The full Senate is expected to take up the bill when they return from their Easter recess. Please continue to communicate with your Senators and urge them to retain urgently needed humanitarian funding.