US House of Representatives Approves Iraq, Afghanistan Funding Measure | Voice of America - English
After months of negotiations, a $162-billion measure to pay for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is headed for congressional approval. The vote in Congress late Thursday was 268 to 155.
Acting on ameasure approved by the Senate in May, but modified in lastminute-negotiations in the House, lawmakers approved $162 billion forthe Pentagon to support military operations Democrats succeeded inadding billions for an expanded GI Bill with education benefits formilitary veterans, enhanced unemployment benefits for Americans. Republicans joined in supporting veterans provisions, and disaster aidfor U.S. flood zones, and for repairs of levees in Louisiana. Absentis controversial language that led to confrontation and presidentialvetos in the past, such as provisions setting a timetable or goal ofwithdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked by reporters before the House vote whether this could be considered a failure by Democrats: "Itis the Republicans in the Senate who enable this policy, and it is thePresident of the United States who has their, who are complicit, theyare complicit with the president to make sure he never has to get abill on his desk with a timeline [for withdrawal from Iraq], becausethe American people want a timeline and his vetoing it is an unpopularmove for him," said Nancy Pelosi. The measure, which pushes outof regular budget war funding to well over $600 billion, does include arequirement that future U.S. reconstruction aid for Iraq be matched bythe Iraqi government. It also prohibits funds from being usedto establish permanent bases in Iraq, something the Bush administrationdenies is being planned. Anti-war Democrats voiced frustration, with many saying they would vote against the measure. Memberof the Congressional Black Caucus, Barbara Lee, decried the lack ofprovisions to require that Congress approve bilateral agreements beingnegotiated with Iraq, while John Lewis spoke out emotionally againstthe measure: LEE: "There is no way, now way, I will vote to continue funding any combat operations in Iraq. This funding needs to end." LEWIS:  "I will not vote for another dollar, another dime, another nickel, another penny, for this war!" Republicanspraised bipartisan cooperation, but Indiana's Mike Pence took Democratsto task for their insistence on adding money for domestic needs. "Despiteall the promises to the country about putting our fiscal house inorder, here we are again with a massive amount of increased domesticspending with nary a thought to how we are going to pay for it, passingthe burden on to future generations of Americans," said CongressmanPence. Democrat's division of the bill into two separate votes,gave those on the far left of the party the opportunity to vote againstthe war, but for domestic needs. Congressional passage of thebill, after Senate action and the president's likely signature, marksthe last supplemental lawmakers will act on before the Novemberpresidential election. With pressure taken off the Pentagon tosustain operations in both war zones, it will then be up to eitherDemocratic Senator Barack Obama or Republican Senator John McCain todecide on a future course regarding both Iraq and Afghanistan.