Appropriations Act Funds War on Terror, Soldier Support

, WASHINGTON: President Bush signed into law H.R. 5631, the “Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007,” which appropriates the funds needed to fight the war on terror, advance other U.S. interests abroad and support the armed forces Sept. 30. 
 
The bill includes an additional $70 billion in emergency funds to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year, including nearly $24 billion for the Army and Marine Corps to repair and replace worn-out equipment. The new funding brings to $507 billion the total amount authorized by Congress for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other anti-terrorism efforts. 
 
The bill provides $378 billion for core Pentagon programs, about a 5 percent increase, though slightly less than Bush sought. Some highlights of the act include:  
 
1. Increasing the 2007 active-duty end strength by 30,000 to 512,400 and the Army National Guard end strength by more than 17,000 to 350,000;  
 
2. Increasing Servicemembers Group Life Insurance premiums for Soldiers in combat zones from $150,000 to $400,000;  
 
3. Repairing and replacing worn-out equipment;  
 
4. Placing surveillance aircraft along roads where IED activity has been the greatest; and  
 
5. Expanding post-traumatic stress disorder studies. 
 
Before signing the bill into, Bush said,