Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today voted in favor of the final version of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Hurricane Recovery for FY 2006.  The bill funds nearly $2 billion to procure and develop countermeasures to prevent improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“More than half of the nearly 2,500 U.S. troops killed in Iraq have been victims of IEDs or improvised explosive devices.  These devices are the primary cause of U.S. casualties in Iraq, and will remain so until we are able to crack their code,” said Larsen.

“Iraqi civilians and U.S. military continue to fall victim to the Iraqi based insurgency and their ability to use simple technologies to create sophisticated Improvised Explosive Devices,” he continued.

“The U.S. military has electronic jamming capabilities that are designed to detect and interrupt the radio signals used to detonate these remote-control bombs and mines, but insurgents continue to develop new techniques that escape this detection,” Larsen said.

“These funds will help our military develop countermeasures to prevent IED attacks in Iraq and bring our troops home safely,” he concluded.

The bill appropriates $94.5 billion in emergency funds for fiscal year 2006.  Of this amount, $65.8 billion is provided for continued military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, related diplomatic and reconstruction efforts, and other foreign assistance programs.

Larsen represents Washington state’s 2nd Congressional district.  He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and has visited with troops in Iraq twice since the war began.    

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