Plans Laid for Next Phase As Iraq Rebuild Continues.

Despite the rising tide of insurgent violence in Iraq in October 2003, United States administration claims and field reports show solid progress is being made in reconstruction. Both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House are fine-tuning legislation to authorize about $18 billion for Iraq reconstruction as part of a fiscal 2004 emergency supplemental bill. The final bill also will determine the amount of the second-phase construction contract now out for bid by the U.S. Agency for International Development.