After hearing additional details from Obama administration officials, the House Armed Services Committee agreed to transfer $700 million to support efforts to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, but is holding off on full funding until questions are answered.
"While I maintain concerns, particularly regarding the safety and security of our military personnel supporting this mission, [the Department of Defense] has provided us with much of their force protection plan and the other information requested," California Rep. Buck McKeon, chairman of the House committee, said in a statement Thursday evening, reports
The Hill.
"Releasing these funds marks the beginning of the committee's oversight of this important mission, not the end."
On Friday morning, the last remaining hurdle was removed when Oklahoma
Sen. Jim Inhofe issued a statement announcing he had agreed to remove his hold on the funding request.
Inhofe said some of the questions he had were answered when the Defense Department provided additional information "regarding the protocol to care for the health of our service members."
But, he said, some questions remain unanswered.
"As for my concerns on transitioning this likely long-term mission to more appropriate government agencies and non-government organizations when the requested money runs out, the Administration still has not come forward with a plan," said Inhofe, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
"But because of the failure of the Obama administration to responsibly and strategically plan in advance for how the U.S. will be involved in West Africa, it will be difficult for me to support any further last-minute funding requests using military resources," he added. "That is why I have insisted another more appropriate funding source be identified for operations beyond six months."
In September, the Defense Department sent Congress a request for $1 billion in defense funds to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Combined with the $50 million already approved, Congress has approved about three-quarters of that request.
House Appropriations Committee members also have additional questions about the administration's plans to send as many as 4,000 U.S. troops to West Africa.
"Our initial review of the proposal has raised questions about the coordination and consistency among these agencies," wrote committee Chairman Hal Rogers and ranking member Nita Lowey in a
letter to the Office of Management and Budget and National Security Council on Thursday, The Hill reports.
The legislators have asked for a response by Oct. 17.
Soldiers deployed to Africa will be eligible for at least $150 per month, and possibly up to $400 per month, in extra pay plus $150 per month in hardship duty-location pay, reports
Military.com.
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