WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released the following statement after the Senate voted last night in support of a supplemental spending bill that provides needed funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as an increase in G.I. benefits for members of our military:

“This legislation provides important and much-needed funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Our soldiers are making extraordinary progress in the war on terror, and their funding should never be put in jeopardy.  I am glad we were able to find the bipartisan consensus to pass this legislation and send our troops the funding they deserve.

“This bill also includes historic increases in G.I. benefits for our service members by improving education benefits and, for the first time, allowing members of the military to transfer those benefits to their spouses or children.  The members of our military are deserving of these enhancements, which will also strengthen military recruitment and retention efforts by attracting those who want to make a career out of service to their country.

“As with every compromise bill, this bill is not perfect.  I am disappointed that funding for Gulf Coast restoration and other important Mississippi projects was not included in this final compromise version of the supplemental.  I supported these provisions when this bill was first approved by the Senate, and I look forward to continuing to work at securing these funds as other legislative opportunities materialize.” 

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