Congress Approves First Funds for Iraq Rebuilding.

In a rush to give the U.S. President George W. Bush emergency funds for initial costs of the war in Iraq and money to start post-war reconstruction, Congress approved a$ 78.5-billion spending bill just before leaving Washington D.C. on April 12, 2003 for a two-week spring break.President Bush had urged Congress to finish the spending measure by April 11.At press time April 15, the White House had not yet received the bill, but President Bush was expected to sign it shortly. The bill allots $62.4 billion for war costs and $7.5 billion for Iraq relief and reconstruction. The military money establishes a Natural Resources Risk Remediation Fund, providing up to$ 489.3 million to support U.S. military efforts to fight oil fires and preserve Iraq's oil production infrastructure.