Defense Bill Passes
The House yesterday approved a $626 billion Pentagon spending measure, wrapping up the annual spending bills almost three months behind schedule. The Pentagon measure, which passed on a vote of 395 to 34, pays for continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Defense bill would provide $508 billion for the Defense Department’s regular activities and $128.3 billion for war operations, although additional funds will need to be appropriated next year to fund the planned escalation of the war in Afghanistan. The full Defense appropriation is $11 billion more than the FY 2009 level, but $3.8 billion below the request. The House also passed an extension of the Continuing Resolution to Dec. 23rd, giving the Senate time to pass the defense measure and for the President to sign it into law. Also yesterday, President Barack Obama signed the $447 billion Omnibus spending bill into law, which includes the FY10 State, Foreign Operations bill.
