House Approves Defense Spending Bill [View All]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Disagreements over missile defense and progress in Iraq are among issues that remain to be resolved as the Senate works to finish a defense spending bill before it goes home for a weeklong recess.

More than 30 amendments to the massive Pentagon authorization bill were pending as the Senate planned to take up the legislation again Wednesday.

On Tuesday, senators rejected a proposal that would have taken money from President Bush's proposed missile defense budget for use on such tasks as securing "loose nukes" - nuclear bomb material around the world that could fall into the hands of terrorists - and policing America's ports and borders. The 56-44 vote defeated an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would have shifted $515 million from the $10.2 billion missile defense budget.

Meanwhile, the House on Tuesday approved a $417 billion defense spending bill that includes an initial $25 billion for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus billions of dollars for major weapons systems.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20040623/D83CIQ3G0.html