WASHINGTON, DC - Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations gave its stamp of approval to legislation that would provide over $120 billion to support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, fill major gaps in homeland security, increase federal home heating assistance, and provide a much needed boost to cover shortfalls in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Appropriations Committee, and the acting chairman of the subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, also helped include an increase of $1.7 billion for veterans' health care. Also included in the supplemental spending bill are increases for several other Reed priorities: " $640 million for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)" $747 million for the fiscal year 2007 shortfall for the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)" $1 billion for the National Guard and Reserve equipment" $1.1 billion for improvements to military housing" $625 million for rail security" $190 million for port security After the Appropriations Committee mark up, Senator Reed issued the following statement: "The supplemental appropriations bill we passed in committee today will address some critical needs. "With respect to domestic priorities, we're increasing LIHEAP funding. We're also increasing security for our transit systems. And in addition to that we're looking at additional money for SCHIP so that Rhode Island can maintain its health insurance coverage for children and families "We're also providing additional resources for the National Guard throughout the country. That is particularly important because of the stress on their equipment and personnel. We need to help them dramatically and we hope we can do that. "As we go forward, one of the major concerns that I've addressed and participated in is the need to increase funding for veterans. "This legislation will have an additional $1.7 billion for veterans' health care. It will also provide resources for mental health for veterans. We're discovering now that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are coming back with traumatic brain injuries, with post traumatic stress disorders, and we've got to have the resources available to help these young men and women. "In addition to that we've got to have a system that is much more user friendly. We saw at Walter Reed where the system did not respond to the needs of these young men and women. They were the ones who had to go door to door, looking for evaluation, getting their disability claims. "We need a better system that is going to take these young men and women through their entire experience with the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration and throughout their lives. "Resources to begin that effort are included in this legislation. This is a positive step forward for our veterans and we're going to continue to work to ensure that we honor their service." The supplemental spending bill provides more than $96 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and includes bipartisan provisions on Iraq that would direct the President, within 120 days of enactment, to begin to redeploy the troops from Iraq, with a goal of having only a limited number of troops remaining in the country on March 31, 2008. A small number of American forces would remain in Iraq for force protection, counter-terrorism operations, and training and equipping Iraqi troops. The supplemental legislation also includes a series of benchmarks for the Iraqis to meet and also the inclusion of regular progress reports to Congress from the U.S. commander in Iraq.