Forty-five percent of the U.S. military force that fought in Iraq was composed of members of the National Guard and Reserves. In comparison to the $62 billion provided for active forces, however, the war supplemental spending bill includes only $271 million for the Reserves. During debate on the war supplemental, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) offered an amendment that would have provided $1 billion for equipment to be used by the approximately 1.2 million men and women in the National Guard and Reserves. Progressives supported Landrieu's proposal because the National Guard and Reserves play an important role in U.S. military operations and should receive equipment that is comparable to what full-time soldiers are provided. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MI) offered a motion to table (or strike down) the Landrieu amendment and the motion passed on a nearly party-line vote of 52-47 (thereby striking down the Landrieu amendment). The partisan division on this vote can be attributed to differences between the parties regarding the amount that should have been provided to the President for discretionary (or flexible) spending on homeland security.