Washington, Feb 3 (SPA) - The Bush administration told Congress on Thursday it would provide an initial $41 million in aid to the Palestinians in an immediate show of support for newly-elected President Mahmoud Abbas. The money is part of a broader $350 million package of aid for the Palestinians announced by President George W. Bush in his State of the Union address on Wednesday. In a letter to key lawmakers, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said the $41 million was designed to have an "immediate impact in support of democratic transition." It will fund a wide range of projects, from road work and water resources to higher education and family health programs. The agency said the money reflected "the U.S. government's interest in providing tangible support to the newly elected leadership and the Palestinian people through a program of highly visible rapid response deliverables." --SPA 1326 Local Time 1026 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/236700