WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., applauded today’s passage of the FY 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill, legislation containing funding for Hurricane Katrina recovery in addition to needed funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Following passage of the legislation, Wicker issued the following statement:

“This bill funds our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and provides the resources they need to carry out their mission.  The bill also contains much-needed funding to restore the federally-owned barrier islands.

“I spoke about the importance of restoring these islands last year during my maiden speech on the Senate floor.  The barrier islands act as Mississippi’s first line of defense against the storm surge of a hurricane, and it is critical for their restoration to begin immediately.  The funding contained in this bill will help make that happen.”

Since the House of Representatives passed the conference report on Tuesday, the legislation now goes to the president to be signed into law.