The conference committee attempted to reach a compromise agreement between the House and Senate on supplemental appropriations for the war with Iraq, homeland security, and other purposes. There was concern that the bill, intended primarily to provide funding for the war and homeland security, should not be filled with unrelated and potentially controversial appropriations. On the other side of the issue, some worried that this would be the only supplemental appropriations bill for the fiscal year 2004, and thus their final opportunity to secure funding for important programs and projects for the coming year.