Today, President Obama requested an additional $5.8 billion to support the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in a FY 2017 Budget Amendment to counter ISIL and combat violent extremism.
‘The budget amendment the administration proposed today is vitally important for our national security, and I strongly urge Congress to adopt it.’
‘For the Department of Defense, this plan reflects the evolving nature of our military campaign against ISIL and our efforts in Afghanistan.’
‘It funds initiatives based on recommendations by our commanders, reviewed by Chairman Dunford and myself and approved by the president, that will hasten the defeat of ISIL and make our nation more secure.’
‘Our counter-ISIL strategy is demonstrating results on the battlefield: Iraqi Security Forces are once again inside Mosul and operations have begun to isolate and eventually liberate Raqqa.’
(CNN’s Arwa Damon on the front lines inside Mosul getting intimately close to the fighting between ISIS and Iraqi security forces. Courtesy of CNN and YouTube)
‘Additional resources will help sustain that positive momentum by boosting our support to partner forces and our intelligence efforts.’
‘In addition to enhancing our effort to defeat ISIL, this plan would fund the President’s decision to adjust our troop levels to better support the Afghan government’s strategy to secure its nation, and would help enhance Afghanistan’s aviation capability.’
‘Importantly, this is a balanced package that also supports critical State Department and USAID efforts to boost national security.’
‘As we’ve shown results on the battlefield, we need to support the diplomatic engagement, governance and stabilization components of the counter-ISIL campaign, as well as relief and recover efforts that, together will help make sure that ISIL, once defeated, stays defeated.’
‘The package supports our State Department and USAID colleagues with needed security funding and supports humanitarian assistance and efforts to counter violent extremism in the Middle East and beyond.’
‘It adheres to the balanced principles that form the bipartisan basis for the much-needed budget stability we have recently enjoyed. In contrast to some congressional proposals, it does not risk that stability and supports emergent defense and non-defense requirements.’
‘Swift passage of this plan will help the Department of Defense and our partners in the U.S. Government and around the world protect this nation, and I urge Congress to support it.’
– Statement from Secretary Ash Carter on release of the budget amendment
