Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009.  The funding in this bill will provide our men and women in uniform the tools they need to protect our nation, while recognizing the sacrifices they and their families have made for this country. 

Unlike past war funding supplementals, this year’s measure will focus on supporting a clear plan for ending the war in Iraq and bringing our men and women home safely and responsibly.  This will be balanced with adequate resources to support a “whole of government” approach to combat Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and to support our allies in Pakistan as they fight a violent insurgency that threatens to envelop their country. 

This supplemental also supports Congress’s critical oversight responsibilities by requiring the President to report on the performance of the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan in five key areas by February of 2010.  This will allow the Congress to evaluate the effectiveness of our new strategy in Afghanistan and ensure that we are providing everything troops need to get the job done.

On the home front, the supplemental ensures that our nation is ready to respond to a full flu pandemic by providing funding for anti-viral drug and vaccine stockpiles as well as assisting state and local responders with the tools to fight such an outbreak. 

This bill ensures the safety of our nation by balancing our war efforts overseas with disaster response at home, and I urge passage of H.R. 2346.