THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

                PRESIDENT CLINTON PROPOSES $6.049 BILLION 
                    IN EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR MILITARY 
                    AND HUMANITARIAN COSTS OF KOSOVO

President Clinton today proposed a $6.049 billion dollar emergency supplemental package to fund the military and humanitarian costs of the action in Kosovo to sustain the current military effort against Slobodan Milosevic and to aid the Kosovar refugees.

The President's package:

• ensures our military has the full measure of resources necessary to carry out the Kosovo air campaign;
• maintains the military readiness of those forces in the Balkan theater and all other U.S. forces; and
• funds the U.S. commitment to provide humanitarian relief now and responds to potential future refugee assistance needs.

Defense Department

The request provides $5.458 billion for the Department of Defense, an amount sufficient to fund the ongoing military operations in Kosovo at current levels, and replenish munitions used during the conflict. These allocations are designed to fully fund the costs of the conflict, and will protect the nation's military readiness.

A readiness and munitions contingency fund is also included in the package to any additional funding needs -- consistent with current policy -- while maintaining the current high level of military readiness. This emergency package, including the contingency fund, is designed to provide full resources to sustain current policy. The request also contains $335 million in funding for humantarian efforts by the Department of Defense. The request includes:

• $3.301 billion for Military Operations, which provides full funding to sustain current U.S. force levels and operations;
• $698 million for Munitions, to replenish or upgrade certain types of munitions, including cruise missiles, used in the Kosovo and Iraq conflicts, including past and anticipated use;
• $850 million for Readiness and Munitions Contingency Reserve Fund, available on a contingency basis, so that readiness will continue to be maintained, and that the supply of all munitions, an essential element of readiness, remains sufficient for future operations.

The funding in this request is based on the assumption that US military force levels in the Balkans will remain at current levels. The request for emergency funding will provide resources through the end of the 1999 Fiscal Year.

Humanitarian Assistance

The request provides $721 million to fund humanitarian operations, principally to aid the Kosovar refugees, carried out by the State Department, the Department of Defense, and USAID.

• $386 million for the Department of State and USAID to supply critical provisions to the refugees, including food, shelter, water, and medicine, and to support efforts organized by the U.S. government, international organizations and non-governmental organizations.
• $335 million for the Department of Defense to provide assistance to Kosovar refugees consistent with US participation in the multilateral commitment for temporary resettlement, including housing, provision of food and medical care for 20,000 refugees during the conflict, and repayment of costs already incurred for supplies and transportation.

In addition, the package provides $150 million to secure the Front-Line States -- providing urgent assistance needed by countries, including Albania and Macedonia, due to disruption from the conflict; and $55 million for State Department operations, including upgrading security for facilities and personnel in the region, and police and justice programs.

This package also provides $274 million to cover operations related to Iraq, including the costs of Desert Fox and Desert Thunder late last year, and activity related to Enhanced Northern and Southern Watch, in light of Iraq's continued defiance of the no-fly zones.

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