provisions limited reconstruction aid to $18.4 billion. It also would provide approximately $65.6 billion for military operations and maintenance and $1.3 billion for veterans’ medical care. [S 1689, Vote 400, 10/17/03; Associated Press, 10/17/03] XXXX Voted Against Slashing Iraq Reconstruction Funding By More Than $500 Million. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to cut Iraq reconstruction funding by $600 million and, in turn, to increase funding for Afghanistan, Liberia and the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. The proposal, which would have included $50 million for the Civil Defense Corps, was killed 55-43. [Vote 399, 10/17/03; Congressional Record, 10/17/03] XXXX Voted Against Reprioritizing Iraq Spending, Including Providing Additional $600 Million to Destroy Weapons in Iraq. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal that would have cut $1.65 billion from Iraq reconstruction funds in order to provide $600 million to secure and destroy conventional weapons in Iraq; $386 million for Afghanistan reconstruction; $200 million for Liberia disaster relief and $519 million to repair military and Coast Guard facilities damaged by Hurricane Isabel. [Vote 396, 10/17/03; National Journal’s CongressDaily, 10/17/03] XXXX Voted Against Cutting $880 Million for Iraq Reconstruction to Increase AIDS Funding. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to use $880 million of the Iraq reconstruction funds in the $87 billion emergency spending bill instead to combat global HIV/AIDS. [Vote 394, 10/17/03; CQ Daily Monitor, 10/17/03] XXXX Rejected Call to Use Iraqi Oil Revenues to Fund Reconstruction. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to require that Iraqi oil revenues be used to pay for reconstruction in Iraq, rather than having U.S. taxpayers cover the cost. Republican critics of the amendment, which was rejected 39-57, portrayed the vote as a show of support for President Bush. “If we want to support the president’s efforts, we will vote against this amendment,” said Sen. Thad Cochran. [Vote 380, 10/14/03; Washington Times, 10/15/03]  XXXX Rejected Call to Use Iraqi Oil Revenues to Fund Reconstruction. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill a proposal to promote the establishment of an Iraq Reconstruction Finance Authority and to tap Iraqi oil revenues to pay for reconstruction. [Vote 392, 10/17/03; CQ Daily Monitor, 10/17/03] XXXX Voted Against Requiring More International Aid to Iraq Before U.S. Aid Continues. In October 2003, XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would have barred future U.S. aid to Iraq beyond the $87 billion Fiscal Year 2004 emergency spending package unless President Bush certifies that foreign countries’ contributions would equal those by the United States. [Vote 391, 10/17/03; AP, 10/17/03] XXXX Voted Against Making $10 Billion in Iraq Reconstruction Funds a Loan Instead of a Gift. In October 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment to the $87 billion emergency war spending bill that made $10 billion in Iraq reconstruction funding in the form of a loan, to be repaid by the Iraqis. According to one Republican Senator, President Bush and Vice President Cheney were personally lobbying Senators to oppose the loan provision. One GOP critic argued, “They were going to open up 350 new schools in Iraq. That’s wonderful, but we’ve got schools closing in the U.S.” With six Republicans voting for the loan language, the amendment was adopted 51-47. [Vote 389, 10/16/03; Richmond Times Dispatch, 10/18/03; Rocky Mountain News, 10/18/03] XXXX Voted in Opposition of Plan to Allow $10.1 Billion in Iraq Funding Immediately, But Would Withhold Other Funding Until U.N. Took Control. On October 16, 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that would have immediately appropriated half of the $20.3 billion requested by the president for Iraq reconstruction, but would have withheld the other half until the follow year, to be released only if the U.S. transferred control over Iraq to the U.N. The vote was on a Stevens, R-Alaska, motion to table (kill) the Byrd, D- W.Va., amendment (no. 1818) to the FY 2004 Iraq and Afghanistan supplemental, which would appropriate $5.1 billion in security funding immediately and up to $5 billion for Iraqi reconstruction funding before April 1, 2004. The remaining $10.2 billion in reconstruction funding could be released after April 1 as part of a separate appropriations bill -- but only if the U.N. had adopted a new resolution authorizing a multinational military force under U.S. leadership in Iraq, with U.N. leadership in political and economic reconstruction. The president also would be required to provide a detailed reconstruction plan that includes an estimated schedule for the transfer of 145