WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The Senate considers a measure next week allowing the Pentagon to transfer as much as $200 million to the State Department for a crisis response fund.
The congressional foreign relations appropriations bill zeroed out the State Department's request for $100 million for the fund, which would identify, train and prepare a cadre of civilian experts who could rapidly deploy after a war to begin reconstruction and stabilization work.
Pentagon officials enthusiastically endorse the proposal as it would reduce the burden on the military to both fight wars and rebuild countries in their wake.
The White House asked Congress to support the $100 million fund but did not ask for money for it. Rather, it asked Congress to approve transfer authority, meaning other accounts would have to be tapped to fund it.
A Senate aide told UPI Wednesday that approach was unacceptable. Another Senate aide said Thursday the Senate Armed Services Committee would put forth an amendment to the 2006 defense authorization bill to allow the money to be transferred from the Defense Department's 2006 budget. However, this is just a one-year answer. The committee wants the White House to account for the money next year in the State Department's annual budget.
The CRF will be administered by the Coordinator of Reconstruction and Stability, a State Department office created in the aftermath of the Iraq war when it became clear the lack of planning and staffing for civilian managers for post war reconstruction significantly hobbled the effort.
