XXXX Voted to Allow Iraq Contractors, Including Halliburton, To Continue Paying Top Bush Administration Officials. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would cut off Iraq reconstruction contracts for any company that has financial ties to the president, vice president or any Cabinet member. Specifically, the amendment was targeted at Halliburton, which had already received $1.4 billion to restore Iraq’s oil industry while continuing to make severance payments to Vice President Cheney. [Vote 386, 10/16/03; AP, 10/16/03; NPR, “Morning Edition,” 10/17/03] XXXX Killed Plan to Provide Oversight For Iraq Reconstruction Spending. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal that would have allowed President Bush to quickly spend the first half of the $20.3 billion for reconstruction in the Fiscal Year 2004 emergency spending bill, while requiring him to get Congressional approval before spending the rest in 2004. [Vote 385, 10/16/03; AP, 10/16/03] XXXX Voted to Require Bids For Reconstruction of Iraq to Comply With Competition in Contracting Act. In 2003, XXXX voted for an amendment that would require the Defense Department to comply with the Competition in Contracting Act when soliciting bids and awarding contracts related to the reconstruction of Iraq. [S 1050, Vote 193, 5/22/03] NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES XXXX Voted to Kill $1 Billion in Equipment Funding For Troops. Just weeks after the Iraq war began, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to provide $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment. The funding proposal was rejected 52-47. [Vote 116, 4/2/03; AP, 4/2/03] XXXX Voted Against Limiting Involuntary Deployments of National Guard & Reservists. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal that would have barred the involuntary deployment of National Guard and Reserves soldiers to Iraq if they have already been involuntarily deployed for more than six months in the last six years. [Vote 397, 10/17/03; Congressional Record, 10/17/03] XXXX Voted to Reimburse Federal Employees in the National Guard Serving in Iraq for Lost Wages. On October 17, 2003, XXXX voted for an amendment that would reimburse federal employees in the National Guard serving in Iraq for lost wages. The vote was on a Durbin, D-Ill., amendment (no. 1837) to the FY 2004 Supplemental for Iraq and Afghanistan. The Durbin amendment would require that federal employees who took leave without pay in order to perform certain services as a member of the uniformed service or the National Guard, be reimbursed for the difference between their salary and the pay and allowances they receive while on duty. [S 1689, Vote 390, 10/17/03; CQ Daily Monitor, 10/17/03] XXXX Refused to Lower Retirement Age for National Guard & Reservists. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to reduce the retirement age for members of the National Guard and Reserve from 60 to 55, allowing 92,000 reservists to retire with full benefits immediately and creating more equity between reservists and civilians. The proposal was defeated 49-47. [Vote 381, 10/15/03; Congressional Record, 10/15/03] XXXX Voted Against Increasing Strength of Army By 10,000. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to expand the size of the U.S. Army by 10,000 soldiers. Supporters of the amendment, which was adopted 52-45 and would cost $409 million over several years, argued that more active duty troops were needed to lessen the budget on National Guard and Reserve soldiers. [Vote 382, 10/15/03; Omaha World Herald, 10/16/03] XXXX Voted Against Limiting National Guard Deployments. In July 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to limit the overseas missions of National Guard and Reserve forces to six months, once a year. [Vote 277, 7/15/03; AP, 7/15/03] ARMOR XXXX Voted Against $361 Million for Armored Humvees. In 2005, XXXX voted against increasing funding for the procurement of Army Tactical Wheeled Vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan by $360.8 million. A Senate aide said 149