For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 17, 2003
Statement by the President
I applaud the House and Senate for passing my supplemental funding
request to support our mission and our troops deployed in Afghanistan,
Iraq, and elsewhere. These funds will provide the resources necessary
to make Iraq more secure and support its transition to self-government,
which is critical to winning the War on Terror. They will also
continue our efforts to help build an Afghanistan that is prosperous,
democratic, and at peace, and that contributes to regional stability.
I commend the House for wisely rejecting a proposal to convert part
of the reconstruction funds to loans. It is unfortunate that a closely
divided Senate voted to partially substitute loans for grants. Loans
are the wrong approach -- they would slow the reconstruction of Iraq,
delay the democratic process, and send the wrong message to both the
region and the world. The loan provision must be removed in
conference.
I thank Chairmen Stevens and Young for their efforts and urge the
conference committee to work to resolve their differences, fully fund
my request, and send me legislation I can sign quickly.
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